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RRS Challenger CH90

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH90
Cruise period1992-03-20 — 1992-03-31
StatusCompleted
Port of departureBarry, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesBiogeochemical study of the flux of material and water. Part of the Anglo-French programme FLUXMANCHE
Chief scientistSimon Boxall (University of Southampton Department of Oceanography)
ProjectFLUXMANCHE
Coordinating bodyFLUXMANCHE (for UK, University of Southampton)
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
SpecificEastern English Channel and Somme region
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH90 cruise track — trk3744.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: Pumped water instrumentation plus meteorological package
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: General Oceanics Multisampler with samples at surface and near bottom
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 64
Description: Neil Brown Mk III CTD
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of stations = 64
Description: SeaTech transmissometer on CTD
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: Pumped water instrumentation plus meteorological package
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Description: spectra from sea surface using Spectron radiometer, uplooking collector
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of stations = 64
Description: Up/downwelling light sensors on CTD
Current metersQuantity: number of stations = 2
Description: 4 cms deployed
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: Shipborne RDI ADCP
Other physical oceanographic measurementsDescription: Aircraft, colour photos and Corsair line spectrometer, data grid over Somme
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: OSCR II (HF radar) current measurements from coastal based station
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of stations = 64
Description: Oxygen sensor on CTD
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: surface & some near-bottom
NitrateQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: surface and some near-bottom samples
NitriteQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: surface and some near-bottom samples
AmmoniaQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: surface and some near-bottom samples
SilicateQuantity: number of surveys = 57
Description: surface and some near-bottom samples
Contamination 
Suspended matterQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 2x'SeaStar' pump systems, surface
Suspended matterQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: Multisampler samples for SPM
Trace metalsQuantity: number of stations = 57
Description: surface & some near-bottom (Al,Cd,Co,Cu,Mn,Ni,Pb,Zn), particulate & dissolved
Other dissolved substancesQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: surface and bottom samples for PCB and pesticides
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 64
Description: Chelsea fluorometer on CTD
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: Pumped water instrumentation plus meteorological package
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 57
Description: Multisample samples for chlorophyll
Meteorology 
Occasional standard measurementsQuantity: number of observations = 64
Description: Met. observations at each CTD station
Routine standard measurementsQuantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: Pumped water instrumentation plus meteorological package
Geology and geophysics 
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 3000
Description: underway P.E.S. bathymetry
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Current meters50° 4' 59" N  1° 55' 59" W — laid 1yr mooring, 2 Aanderaa RCM8s, with T,S and P sensors, 10m+2m from seabed
Current meters50° 30' 0" N  1° 55' 59" W — laid 1yr mooring, 2 Aanderaa RCM8s, with T,S and P sensors, 10m+2m from seabed