Resources

Le Surell AR2/2004

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship nameLe Surell
Cruise identifierAR2/2004
Cruise period2004-04-10 — 2004-04-12
StatusCompleted
Port of departurePort-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, France
Port of returnPort-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, France
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesEMCM, OBS, pressure sensor and grab sample surveys of the lower 7 km of the Rhône river, as well as the mouth area (delta top and delta front). Objectives were to gather information on river conditions prior to SED2 cruise deployments (13-16 April 2004), and to collect bottom samples for continued analysis of the relationship between river plume and bottom sediment distribution.
This cruise was the fourth in a series planned for the Gulf of Lions (see also AR1-2003, FR1-2003, AR1-2004) within Workpackage 1 (Shelf and River input systems) of the European Union FP5 project European Margin Strata Formation (EUROSTRATAFORM) (EVK3-CT-2002-00079). EUROSTRATAFORM objectives are to explore the fate of sediment particles from their source in rivers through to their deposition on shallow deltas, the continental shelf and deep sea basins.
Chief scientistCarl L Amos (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralMediterranean Sea
SpecificGulf of Lions, northwest Mediterranean
Measurements 
Geology and geophysics 
GrabQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Bottom samples in river on 10/04/04, Van Veen grab, for provenance analysis at SOES labs, UK
GrabQuantity: number of stations = 29
Description: Bottom samples in Rhone river mouth, delta top and front areas on 11/04/04, Van Veen grab, for provenance analysis at SOES labs, UK
GrabQuantity: number of stations = 20
Description: Swash zone and dune beach samples E and W of Rhône river mouth on 11/04/04 and 12/04/04, hand sediment sampler, for provenance analysis at SOES labs, UK
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Optics (eg underwater light levels)43° 21' 31" N  4° 50' 16" E — OBS (Valeport 730D), bottom turbidity, one instrument, 10.2 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Optics (eg underwater light levels)43° 20' 17" N  4° 50' 34" E — OBS (Valeport 730D), bottom turbidity, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Optics (eg underwater light levels)43° 22' 40" N  4° 48' 42" E — OBS (Valeport 730D), bottom turbidity, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, main channel, opposite La Pallisade
Current meters43° 21' 31" N  4° 50' 16" E — EMCM (Valeport 730D), bottom current velocity, one instrument, 10.2 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Current meters43° 22' 40" N  4° 48' 42" E — EMCM (Valeport 730D), bottom current velocity, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, main channel, opposite La Pallisade
Current meters43° 20' 17" N  4° 50' 34" E — EMCM (Valeport 730D), bottom current velocity, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)43° 20' 17" N  4° 50' 34" E — Pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), bottom pressure, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)43° 22' 40" N  4° 48' 42" E — Pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), bottom pressure, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, main channel, opposite La Pallisade
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)43° 21' 31" N  4° 50' 16" E — Pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), bottom pressure, one instrument, 10.2 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Instrumented wave measurements43° 20' 17" N  4° 50' 34" E — Wave pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), wave frequency, wave velocity, wave amplitude, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank
Instrumented wave measurements43° 22' 40" N  4° 48' 42" E — Wave pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), wave frequency, wave velocity, wave amplitude, one instrument, 8.9 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, main channel, opposite La Pallisade
Instrumented wave measurements43° 21' 31" N  4° 50' 16" E — Wave pressure sensor (Valeport 730D), wave frequency, wave velocity, wave amplitude, one instrument, 10.2 m water depth, deployed 10/04/04, recovered 12/04/04, in main channel near left bank