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RRS Frederick Russell FR16/83

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Frederick Russell (74GG)
Cruise identifierFR16/83
Cruise period1983-09-20 — 1983-09-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departurePlymouth, United Kingdom
Port of returnPlymouth, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives(a) To deploy a recording of current meter mooring in the vicinity of Melville Knoll (mooring Mk1) for long term current measurements to study the vertical structure of tidal currents.
(b) To deploy two Bristol University current meter moorings in the vicinity of Melville Knoll (moorings CM1 and CM2).
(c) To deploy recording current meter moorings in the vicinity of La Chapelle Bank (moorings LCB1-4) for long term current measurements to study the interaction between internal waves and tidal currents at the shelf-break. Information was also required to study the relation between sediment transport directions and tidal flows at the shelf-edge.
(d) To deploy a thermistor chain mooring, for long term measurements, in the vicinity of La Chapelle Bank (mooring TC1) to study temperature fluctuations associated with internal waves.
(e) To carry out salinity and temperature measurements at midshelf edge locations using CTD, XBT and thermo-salinograph equipment. This work included measurements in Black Mud Canyon.
(f) To carry out underwater photography and sediment sampling at mid-shelf and shelf-edge locations (including gravity coring in Black Mud Canyon).
(g) To deploy a Bristol University frame mounted near-bottom current meter and sediment trap at a location of La Chapelle Bank.
(h) To carry out echosounding and sidescan sonar surveys at various shelf and shelf-edge locations and in the vicinity of all moorings, to determine the size, extent and asymmetry of bedforms.
(i) To investigate internal wave structure at the shelf-break using acoustic techniques.
Chief scientistAnthony D Heathershaw (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Taunton)
Cruise reportRRS Frederick Russell FR16/83 cruise report frederick_russell16and18_83.pdf (0.37 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
Celtic Sea
SpecificS.W. Approaches
Track chartsRRS Frederick Russell FR16/83 cruise track — frederick_russell16and18_83track.pdf (0.04 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of measurements = 1
Description: A 'drift' CTD observation took place across the shelf-break.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: CTD observations started but abandoned due to engine difficulties.
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph took place in the La Chapelle Bank.
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph surveys took place on passage to Plymouth.
Current metersQuantity: number of deployments = 2
Description: Current meters laid at CM2 and CM1 moorings.
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment trapsQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon.
Gear researchQuantity: activity duration in hours = 4
Description: Wire tests on releases took place at Melville Knoll.
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon.
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph took place in the La Chapelle Bank.
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon.
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph surveys took place on passage to Plymouth.
Long/short range side scan sonarQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon.
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stations47° 34' 24" N  7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1.
CTD stations47° 39' 32" N  7° 11' 44" W — CTD observations took place at TC1.
CTD stations49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid.
Current meters47° 34' 24" N  7° 16' 43" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB1.
Current meters47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB2.
Current meters47° 42' 3" N  7° 17' 7" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB3.
Current meters47° 39' 32" N  7° 11' 44" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at TC1.
Current meters47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB4.
Current meters49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid.
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment traps47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB2.
Sediment traps49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — Sediment sampling took place at MK1.
Sediment traps47° 34' 24" N  7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1.
Sediment traps47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB4.
Gear research47° 34' 24" N  7° 16' 43" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB1.
Gear research47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB2.
Gear research47° 39' 32" N  7° 11' 44" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at TC1.
Gear research47° 42' 3" N  7° 17' 7" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB3.
Gear research47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB4.
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photography47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Camera work took place at LCB4.
Bottom photography47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB2.
Bottom photography47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB4.
Bottom photography49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — Camera work took place at MK1.
Bottom photography47° 34' 24" N  7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1.
Single-beam echosounding47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB4.
Single-beam echosounding47° 42' 3" N  7° 17' 7" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB3.
Single-beam echosounding47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB2.
Single-beam echosounding49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid.
Long/short range side scan sonar47° 42' 3" N  7° 17' 7" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB3.
Long/short range side scan sonar47° 40' 23" N  7° 13' 25" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB2.
Long/short range side scan sonar49° 14' 13" N  8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid.
Long/short range side scan sonar47° 35' 50" N  7° 2' 30" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB4.