Resources

RRS Charles Darwin CD135

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Charles Darwin (74AB)
Cruise identifierCD135
Cruise period2001-10-24 — 2001-11-18
StatusCompleted
Port of departureVictoria, Seychelles
Port of returnDurban, South Africa
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesATSR satellite validation cruise. The cruise was divided into 2 legs: Leg 1 primarily focussed on ATSR satellite validation and Leg 2 was planned around the recovery of Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ) moorings. Throughout the cruise real-time measurements of the air-sea fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, latent heat and CO2 were made, in addition to the usual mean met parameters.

The main aim of Leg1 (Seychelles to Seychelles) was to achive as many ATSR satellite overpass validations as possible with the SISTeR radiometer. In addition 5 APEX floats were deployed in support of the ARGO programme and 2 XBT equatorial sections were made.

During Leg2 (Seychelles to Durban) the key objective was to recover an array of seven moorings, on a section across the Mozambique Channel roughly at it narrowest part, which had previously been deployed by NIOZ. Further ATSR overpass validations were achieved and 2 more XBT sections were made.
Chief scientistRobin W Pascal (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
Cruise reportRRS Charles Darwin CD135 cruise report cd135.pdf (2.55 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralIndian Ocean
Mozambique Channel (Indian Ocean)
SpecificSeychelles to Durban, Mozambique Channel.
Track chartsRRS Charles Darwin CD135 cruise track — cd135trk.pdf (0.10 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Description: Sea surface temperature measurements were taken. No. of samples not noted.
BathythermographDescription: XBT's were deployed throughout the cruise. No. deployed not noted.
Chemical oceanography 
Carbon dioxideDescription: CO2 levels were measured. No. of samples not noted.
Meteorology 
Upper air observationsDescription: Radiosonde equipment was used on the cruise. No of measurements taken not noted.