Resources

RRS Challenger CH111

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH111
Cruise period1994-03-29 — 1994-04-25
StatusCompleted
Port of departureBarry, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTo obtain a suite of benthic samples from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (48 50'N 16 30'W) as part of the IOSDL 'DEEPSEAS' programme and wider CEC MAST II funded project for comparison with previous cruises to this site (RRS Discovery 185, RRS Challenger 79) and other NE Atlantic sites (Madeira Abyssal Plain, RRS Discovery 194; Cape Verde Abyssal Plain, RRS Discovery 204).
To recover a Bathysnap (time-lapse camera and current meter) from the main study site, originally deployed from RRS Charles Darwin in September 1992. Time permitting, to visit a site on the Goban Spur to follow up photosledge transect carried out during RRS Challenger 94, which revealed abundant populations of the xenophyophore Syringammina sp..
Chief scientistBrian James Bett (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon Laboratory)
ProjectOSDL Deep Seas Benthos/MAST II-0033/contr. MAS2-920037
Coordinating bodyIOSDL/CEC MAST
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH111 cruise report ch111_94.pdf (1.10 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificPorcupine Abyssal Plain & Goban Spur
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH111 cruise track — trk3953.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: Rosette water bottle sampling - Porcupine Abys. Plain
Biology and fisheries 
Pelagic bacteria/micro-organismsQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: Rosette water bottle sampling - Porcupine Abys. Plain
Benthic bacteria/micro-organismsQuantity: number of deployments = 12
Description: multiple corer - Porcupine Abys. Plain
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of deployments = 4
Description: Wide Angle Seab. Photo.,3 Porcupine Abys. Plain,1 Goban Spur
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of hauls = 1
Description: Epibenthic sledge (IOSDL type) - Porcupine Abys. Plain
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of deployments = 7
Description: box corer,UNSEL type, 4 Porcupine Abys. Plain, 3 Goban Spur
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of profiles = 12
Description: multiple corer - Porcupine Abys. Plain
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Otter trawl (OTSB14) - Porcupine Abys. Plain
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Otter trawl (OTSB14) - Porcupine Abys. Plain
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of deployments = 4
Description: Wide Angle Seab. Photo.,3 Porcupine Abys. Plain,1 Goban Spur
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Biology and fisheries 
Zoobenthos49° 43' 0" N  13° 16' 59" W — DEMAR - as above - (B18, B21)
Zoobenthos48° 46' 59" N  16° 34' 0" W — baited amphipod traps (IOSDL DEMAR type)
Zoobenthos48° 51' 0" N  16° 25' 59" W — as above (B18, B21)
Demersal fish48° 52' 0" N  16° 31' 59" W — as above (B19, B37, B90)
Demersal fish48° 52' 0" N  16° 25' 0" W — as above (B19, B37, B90)
Demersal fish48° 52' 59" N  16° 23' 59" W — as above (B19, B37, B90)
Demersal fish49° 46' 0" N  13° 28' 0" W — AUDOS - as above - (B19, B37, B90)
Demersal fish48° 47' 59" N  16° 19' 59" W — AUDOS (Aberdeen University Deep Ocean Submersible)
Crustaceans48° 49' 0" N  16° 31' 0" W — as above (B18, B21)
Taggings48° 58' 0" N  16° 37' 59" W — acoustic tag, tracking and photography of scavenging
Other biological/fisheries measurement48° 52' 0" N  16° 30' 0" W — depl. long term time-lapse camera (IOSDL Bathysnap)
Other biological/fisheries measurement48° 55' 59" N  16° 22' 59" W — Rec. long term time-lapse camera (IOSDL Bathysnap)
Other biological/fisheries measurement48° 49' 59" N  16° 22' 59" W — demersal fish
Other biological/fisheries measurement48° 52' 59" N  16° 19' 59" W — Short term deployment of baited bathysnap