RRS Shackleton S2/76
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Shackleton (74SF) |
| Cruise identifier | S2/76 |
| Cruise period | 1976-04-30 — 1976-05-25 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Callao, Peru |
| Port of return | Balboa, Panama |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | The principle cruise objectives were to obtain geochemical samples of the East Pacific Rise, the Peru Basin, the Bauer Deep and the Panama Basin, and also samples of atmospheric dust particles. It was intended to collect bottom sediment using Piston and Gravity Corers, water samples using Niskin and Nio bottles in deep and shallow casts, plankton samples, and air particulates using large fibre screens. Initial analysis of samples on board was proposed following water filtration and removal of pore water from sediments.
1. To study the expression of hydrothermal processes in east Pacific sediments with different environmental characteristics 2. To study the diagenesis of sediments related to the breakdown of organic matter. 3. To study profiles of particulate matter in sea water. 4. To study the geochemistry of plankton. 5. To study the vertical distribution of dissolved iodine species in sea water. 6. To study the loadings and geochemistry of atmospheric dusts in the S.E.Pacific. 7. To study the geochemistry of Pacific metalliferous sediments. 8. To study the geochemistry of sediments on a west-east profile off Peru. 9. To study the concentrations and types of humic material in sea water from deep-sea areas, especially in the region of equatorial productivity. |
| Chief scientist | Harry Elderfield (University of Leeds Department of Earth Sciences) |
| Coordinating body | NERC |
| Cruise report |  (1.08 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North East Pacific Ocean (limit 180W) South East Pacific Ocean (limit 140W) |
| Track charts | (0.24 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 40 Description: thirty litre Niskin bottles. |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Phosphate | Quantity: number of samples = 540 Description: Water samples and cores analysed for nutrients. |
| Nitrate | Quantity: number of samples = 540 Description: Water samples and cores analysed for nutrients. |
| Silicate | Quantity: number of samples = 540 Description: Water samples and cores analysed for nutrients. |
| Alkalinity | Description: Core sub samples analysed for alkalinity, major elements and metal analysis. |
| Trace elements | Description: Core sub samples analysed for alkalinity, major elements and metal analysis. |
| Contamination | |
| Trace metals | Description: Core sub samples analysed for alkalinity, major elements and metal analysis. |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 35 Description: gravity cores. |
