Resources

RV Weatherbird II AVVEX 1998

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Weatherbird II (320G)
Cruise identifierAVVEX 1998
Cruise period1998-08-21 — 1998-09-06
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSt. George's, Bermuda
Port of returnSt. George's, Bermuda
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThis work was carried out over two legs. The first leg was 21-24 Aug 1998. The second leg was 04-06 September 1998.
The autonomous vehicle validation experiment (AVVEX 1998) had the following objectives:
a) demonstrate an AUTOSUB mission of 250km profiling to 400m;
b) demonstrate ease of integration of commercial and experimental sensors into the AUV;
c) demonstrate the gathering of multi-disciplinary data from an AUV in a number of survey modes and the added value of the AUV data;
d) demonstate the use of an AUV as an adjunct to a time series station (Hydrostation 'S');
e) verify that such operations could become routine and cost effective.
Chief scientistNick Millard (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Atlantic Ocean
SpecificWaters adjacent to Bermuda
Track chartsRV Weatherbird II AVVEX 1998 cruise track — trk4389.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 4
Description: CTD stations in support of above
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of dives = 11
Description: Multi-wavelength optical upwelling and downwelling irradiance and IR backscatter
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of dives = 11
Description: Multi-wavelength optical upwelling and downwelling irradiance and IR backscatter
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of dives = 4
Description: Turbulence measurements using Aerofoil probe and temperature microstructure
Chemical oceanography 
NitrateQuantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.
pHQuantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of dives = 11
Description: From CTD and other sensors on the Autosub-1 AUV. Also, engineering performance data.