Resources

RRS Discovery D82A

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD82A
Cruise period1977-03-21 — 1977-04-12
StatusCompleted
Port of departureGibraltar, Gibraltar
Port of returnDakar, Senegal
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe objectives of leg 1 were to locate a patch of water distinctive for its biological, chemical and physical characteristics. To study the distribution of these characteristics both within and outside the patch and the time scale of change in these characteristics. An alternative objective was to study these characteristics across frontal systems. The area of study chosen was between 20 degrees N and 23 degrees N off the north-west African coast as both newly upwelled patches of water could be expected, and the frontal systems in the area are clearly defined and their physical structure well documented.
Chief scientistMartin V Angel (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Wormley Laboratory)
ProjectUpwelling off NW Africa and Total Column Sampling Around 20N 21W
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D82A cruise report d82.pdf (16.63 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRRS Discovery D82A cruise track — trk1803.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 33
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of stations = 3
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of stations = 14
Surface drifters/drifting buoysQuantity: number of deployments = 18
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenDescription: continuous sampling
PhosphateDescription: continuous sampling
NitriteDescription: continuous sampling
SilicateDescription: continuous sampling
Biology and fisheries 
Primary productivityQuantity: number of stations = 11
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 22
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 12
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 124
SestonQuantity: number of samples = 22
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurementsDescription: continuous sampling