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FRV Explorer 4B/76

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Explorer (74EX)
Cruise identifier4B/76
Cruise period1976-05-26 — 1976-06-04
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTo continue and complete the joint IMER/DAFS/MAFF contribution to the Fladen Ground experiment (FLEX)

1) To describe the horizontal variability of the physical, chemical and biological processes over the FLEX box by making a number of passes over the 7 legs of the grid
2) To describe the vertical variability of the physical, chemical and biological processes at stations 1-9
3) To measure the rates of selected processes (primary productivity, sedimentation etc.)

The UOR and CPR were used for plankton sampling in the Flex box, and a fourth survey of the box was done using the High Speed Loch Ewe net. An intercalibration exercise was done with ''Meteor'' on the 02/06/1976. The sedimentation traps were anchored. A Longhurst-Hardy plankton recorder was deployed
Chief scientistJames A Adams (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory), John H Steele (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise reportFRV Explorer 4B/76 cruise report explorer4_76.pdf (0.20 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 42
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise: 86 sub surface
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements
Chemical oceanography 
PhosphateQuantity: 40
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
NitrateQuantity: 42
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
NitriteQuantity: 42
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
Total - NQuantity: 3
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
SilicateQuantity: 40
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
Biology and fisheries 
Primary productivityQuantity: 7
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: 42
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: 6
Description: Measurements from both parts of the cruise
Phytoplankton
ZooplanktonDescription: survey population, physiology etc
Other biological/fisheries measurementDescription: sedimentation rates and nutrient kinetics. Sets of 5 settlement traps were deployed and recovered 8 times during the cruise
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurements