RRS Discovery D266
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74E3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise identifier | D266 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise period | 2002-09-27 — 2002-10-24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Completed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port of departure | Govan, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port of return | Govan, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purpose | Research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objectives | Natural bioluminescence produced by organisms on the seafloor of the northeast Atlantic ocean was examined using an image intensifying (ISIT) camera mounted on an autonomous lander system. The system was deployed 25 times in the region of the Porcupine Seabight, Goban Spur and Porcupine Abyssal Plain at depths from 970 to 4,807 m in the NE Atlantic Ocean on a series of voyages of the RRS Discovery. D266 was the final cruise of this series. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief scientist | Imants G Priede (University of Aberdeen, Oceanlab) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinating body | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise report |  (0.26 MB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ocean/sea areas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific | Porcupine Seabight and Abyssal Plain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Measurements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 10 Description: CTD, including tests of camera equipment and housing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biology and fisheries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of experiments = 13 Description: Semi-balloon otter trawl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of hauls = 1 Description: Fish RESPirometry Lander (FRESP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 1 Description: Fish RESPirometry Lander (FRESP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of experiments = 13 Description: Semi-balloon otter trawl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geology and geophysics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 3 Description: Multicorer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 4 Description: Box corer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | 49° 27' 54" N 15° 34' 12" W — ISIT deployed in bungee mode half way between PAP and the seabight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | 48° 46' 35" N 16° 29' 5" W — A second ISIT in bungee mode at the PAP station. The splat screen was bent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | 49° 46' 41" N 13° 37' 41" W — ISIT bungee in the mouth of the seabight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | 49° 1' 53" N 16° 8' 59" W — The ISIT in bungee mode, a good profile to the bottom was obtained. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | 48° 59' 24" N 16° 28' 5" W — An instrumentation mooring for the ANIMATE project featuring ARGOS real time telemetry to shore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | 48° 58' 59" N 16° 25' 23" W — The third of three ANIMATE moorings to be deployed with nutrient analysers but no satellite telemetry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biology and fisheries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 49° 0' 5" N 16° 28' 48" W — Sediment Trap mooring deployed for Dr Richard Lampitt of SOC. Designated PAP3 of the EU ANIMATE project. 3 traps on a 3000m mooring. Fixative leaked from tubes during deployment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 48° 59' 41" N 16° 26' 47" W — Sediment trap mooring recovered for Dr. Richard Lampitt of SOC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | 48° 47' 17" N 16° 29' 47" W — A second SPRINT at the PAP station. Excellent quality video but the fish are relatively unresponsive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | 49° 46' 53" N 13° 40' 17" W — Sprint deployed for small C.armatus. Very good quality video obtained. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | 49° 44' 5" N 13° 30' 0" W — Easy SPRINT deployment in calm weather - had to be left because of diversion to Cork. Good results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | 48° 59' 53" N 16° 6' 53" W — First SPRINT deployment on the abyssal plain. Many C. armatus were attracted but only a few fast starts were recorded. Dahn buoy broke free during recovery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demersal fish | 51° 12' 11" N 11° 41' 6" W — SPRINT targeting the eels that are usually abundant in this area. Results were disappointing, with few eels attracted to the rig. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | 51° 9' 53" N 11° 40' 47" W — Baited lander deployed on the usual coral site for detection of bioluminescence. Good results with the camera viewing a larger area than normal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | 51° 10' 12" N 11° 40' 35" W — ISIT deployed with no bait as a control experiment. Little luminescence was detected. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geology and geophysics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 47' 29" N 13° 38' 24" W — The DOBO camera system, which had been rebuilt on board ship, was lowered to the sea floor for tests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 44' 5" N 13° 30' 0" W — Easy SPRINT deployment in calm weather - had to be left because of diversion to Cork. Good results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 48° 45' 47" N 16° 30' 54" W — DOBO deployed for a short term test of the bait release mechanism. On recovery, it was found the camera had failed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 22' 59" N 13° 35' 42" W — DOBO deployed to be recovered in 2003. Equipped with odour bait release. No tests were possible owing to onset of adverse weather. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 0' 11" N 16° 26' 47" W — Bathysnap deployed near the ANIMATE moorings. To be recovered in 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 58' 30" N 13° 31' 17" W — Retrieval of the deep ocean benthic observatory deployed on D260 on 17 March 2002. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | 49° 46' 53" N 13° 40' 17" W — Sprint deployed for small C.armatus. Very good quality video obtained. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data held at BODC | Get data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series/Profiles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 In-situ nutrient analyser | Reference numbers Moored instrument depth Date and time Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Reference numbers Moored instrument depth Date and time Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
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| 10 Moored CTD | Reference numbers Moored instrument depth Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Reference numbers Moored instrument depth Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column
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| Discrete samples | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Instrument mooring | Sedimentation flux quantification in the water column |
