Resources

RRS Discovery D38

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD38
Cruise period1971-01-22 — 1971-04-07
StatusCompleted
Port of departureBarry, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTo study the fluctuating currents on the continental slope off the western end of the English Channel, by setting out an array of moored current meters and by making TSD sections to define the hydrographic conditions in the area. This latter work was greatly enhanced by use of the computer for logging the TSD output and providing rapid plots of the vertical distribution of temperature, salinity and density. A related aim was to test the new hydrographic winch.

Three weeks were then devoted to measuring currents and collecting intensive series of temperature and salinity observations in the Mediterranean outflow in the Gulf of Cadiz. On the return passage, the mooring site on the continental slope was again visited, and three moorings were left out intended for recovery on a later cruise.
Chief scientistJohn C Swallow (National Institute of Oceanography)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D38 cruise report d38.pdf (0.68 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
Bay of Biscay
Track chartsRRS Discovery D38 cruise track — d38track.pdf (0.02 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 61
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 189
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements
Current metersQuantity: 34
Description: 610d
Contamination 
Trace metalsQuantity: 6
Description: mercury pollution
Meteorology 
Occasional standard measurements
Other meteorological measurementsDescription: sea and swell