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FRV Explorer 4/71

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Explorer (74EX)
Cruise identifier4/71
Cruise period1971-07-11 — 1971-08-06
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1) To collect water, plankton, fish, benthos, and sediment samples for heavy metal analysis
2) To make continuous surveys of temperature, salinity, nitrate and chlorophyll concentrations
3) To measure currents in the sea area from Arran and the Ayrshire coast using current meters and parachute drogues
4) To sample and examine bottom sediments in the vicinity of Garrochhead using underwater TV
5) To collect samples of seawater at a number of fixed stations in the Clyde area for salinity, temperature, nutrient and dissolved oxygen analysis
6) Uplift and relay moored current meter at Collieston

Owing to a faulty navigation light, the Collieston mooring was not re-laid. Additional sampling work was done:

1) Current measurement using parachute drogues in the area of the sill at the entrance to the Clyde
2) Collection of Flatfish at several beach areas between Ardrossan and Troon using FRV ''Sprat''
3) Inshore survey of the nitrate content of waters in the area of the nylon work's pipeline
4) A number of hydrographic stations during passage back to Aberdeen to delineate area of mixing between coastal and oceanic waters
Chief scientistGraham Topping (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise reportFRV Explorer 4/71 cruise report explorer4_71.pdf (0.08 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificGarrochhead, Arran and the Ayrshire coast, Clyde, areas between Ardrossan and Troon, Aberdeen Banks
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
BathythermographQuantity: number of profiles = 3
Description: mechanical
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 103
Description: 8 top & bottom only
Current metersDescription: 3d
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: 20
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: 35
PhosphateQuantity: 34
NitrateQuantity: 76
Biology and fisheries 
Primary productivityQuantity: 21
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: 50
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: 6
Description: biological oxygen demand
Geology and geophysics 
DredgeQuantity: number of deployments = 16
Bottom photographyQuantity: 8