Resources

RRS Discovery D320

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD320
Cruise period2007-06-16 — 2007-07-18
StatusCompleted
Port of departureFalmouth, United Kingdom
Port of returnGovan, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe overall aim of the UKSOLAS project DOGEE-SOLAS is the parameterization of air-sea gas exchange, which is a currently a major uncertainty in global modelling. RRS Discovery cruise D320 thus was primarily concerned with the measurement of air-sea gas transfer velocities and some of the important physical parameters that influence them through contributing to near surface turbulence, and other processes. In brief, specific cruise objectives were:

1. Determine open ocean gas transfer velocities through a number of dual-tracer releases (3He & SF6).
2. Investigate the role of surfactant in gas exchange through a targeted surfactant release in conjunction with (1).
3. Determine CO2 fluxes and transfer velocities, and make associated hydrographic and turbulence related measurements from autonomous ASIS (Air-Sea Interaction Spar) buoys.
4. Measure air-sea fluxes of CO2, sensible heat, latent heat and momentum using the AUTOFLUX automated sensor array
5. Measure underway, total gas tension, dissolved O2, and CO2 to obtain independent air-sea gas exchange estimates.
6. Make covariance and gas budgeting estimates of air-sea gas exchange using intelligent profiling Lagrangian floats.
7. Independently determine DMS fluxes and gas transfer velocities for comparison with CO2 to examine the role of gas solubility in gas transfer.
8. Deploy a spar buoy (NOC) for measurement of wave heights and bubble properties
9. Record and measure whitecap coverage and wave breaking coincident with the air-sea flux measurements using ship mounted cameras
10. Record key meteorological variables
11. Quantify flow distortion biases in the direct flux measurements via the use of established models.
12. Make biogas, surfactant and bacterial measurements in the surface microlayer and in the uppermost metres of the ocean using surface microlayer samplers, a remotely operated catamaran, and a near surface sampler.
13. Deploy an autonomous powered profiler (ASIP) for turbulence-related measurements in the mixed layer.

Objectives 1-12 were all met. Unfortunately, due to mechanical failure and loss of ASIP, objective 13 was not realised.
Chief scientistRobert Upstill-Goddard (Newcastle University School of Marine Science and Technology)
ProjectUK SOLAS
Coordinating bodyNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D320 cruise report d320.pdf (6.11 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificAtlantic west of Iberian Peninsula and Ireland
Track chartsRRS Discovery D320 cruise track — d320trk.pdf (0.02 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 25
Description: Vertical CTD casts (mixed layer, 150-300m): 3He tracer: collected for post-cruise analysis (on-shore mass spectrometry) due to failure of cruise objectives
Geochemical tracers (eg freons)Quantity: number of stations = 44
Description: Vertical CTD casts (mixed layer, 150-300m): SF6 tracer by electron capture detection gas chromatography.
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Underway (5m) dissolved O2, dissolved CO2, total gas tension, temperature and salinity.
Carbon dioxideQuantity: activity duration in days = 33
Description: Ship-mounted continuous underway surface pCO2 by gas equilibration/LICOR detection: CASIX system.
Carbon dioxideQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Underway (5m) dissolved O2, dissolved CO2, total gas tension, temperature and salinity.
Other dissolved gasesQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Underway (5m) dissolved O2, dissolved CO2, total gas tension, temperature and salinity.
Other dissolved gasesQuantity: activity duration in days = 33
Description: Underway measurements of DMS surface water concentrations
Other dissolved gasesQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Mass spectrometric measurements of DMS sea-to-air fluxes by eddy covariance
Total - PQuantity: activity duration in days = 22
Description: Underway continuous (every 4 min.) measurements of surface (6m) SF6 tracer by electron capture detection gas chromatography
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Surfactant activity: surface sampling
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 30
Description: Continuous meteorological data and CO2 fluxes by AUTOFLUX system
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Subsurface temperature measurements42° 35' 24" N  16° 9' 53" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter/drogue/thermistor chain: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Subsurface temperature measurements43° 37' 30" N  18° 3' 0" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue/thermistor chain: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered
Current meters43° 21' 54" N  17° 59' 35" W — ASIS (II) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Current meters43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — ASIS (I) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Surface drifters/drifting buoys43° 37' 30" N  18° 3' 0" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue/thermistor chain: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 35' 24" N  16° 9' 53" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter/drogue/thermistor chain: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 21' 59" N  16° 3' 59" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 42' 0" N  17° 41' 59" W — ASIP near surface profiler: turbulence parameters. Lost.
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 41' 47" N  17° 42' 29" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 35' 53" N  16° 7' 47" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Surface drifters/drifting buoys43° 25' 41" N  17° 51' 0" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered
Surface drifters/drifting buoys43° 31' 35" N  18° 0' 29" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter/drogue/thermistor chain: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered
Surface drifters/drifting buoys42° 18' 53" N  17° 46' 48" W — Surface Argos/RF drifter with drogue: position location for gaseous tracer patch. Recovered.
Neutrally buoyant floats42° 31' 59" N  16° 14' 47" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered.
Neutrally buoyant floats43° 23' 59" N  18° 18' 0" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Neutrally buoyant floats43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Instrumented wave measurements43° 21' 54" N  17° 59' 35" W — ASIS (II) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Instrumented wave measurements43° 13' 17" N  17° 44' 17" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Instrumented wave measurements43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — ASIS (I) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Instrumented wave measurements42° 34' 53" N  16° 6' 41" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Instrumented wave measurements43° 41' 53" N  18° 7' 59" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Instrumented wave measurements42° 34' 35" N  16° 33' 41" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Other physical oceanographic measurements42° 34' 35" N  16° 33' 41" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Other physical oceanographic measurements43° 41' 53" N  18° 7' 59" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Other physical oceanographic measurements43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — ASIS (I) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Other physical oceanographic measurements43° 13' 17" N  17° 44' 17" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Other physical oceanographic measurements43° 21' 54" N  17° 59' 35" W — ASIS (II) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Other physical oceanographic measurements42° 34' 53" N  16° 6' 41" W — NOC Spar buoy: wave wire and acoustic bubble data. Recovered.
Chemical oceanography 
Oxygen42° 31' 59" N  16° 14' 47" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered.
Oxygen43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Oxygen43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — ASIS (I) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Oxygen43° 21' 54" N  17° 59' 35" W — ASIS (II) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Oxygen43° 23' 59" N  18° 18' 0" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Carbon dioxide43° 21' 54" N  17° 59' 35" W — ASIS (II) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Carbon dioxide43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — ASIS (I) spar buoy: CO2, turbulence, hydrographic and meteorological parameters. Recovered
Other dissolved gases42° 42' 23" N  16° 6' 59" W — PML Near Surface Sampler for dissolved gases. Recovered.
Other dissolved gases42° 27' 17" N  16° 52' 59" W — PML Near Surface Sampler for dissolved gases. Recovered.
Other dissolved gases42° 31' 59" N  16° 14' 47" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered.
Other dissolved gases43° 47' 35" N  18° 16' 41" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Other dissolved gases41° 42' 23" N  18° 24' 5" W — PML Near Surface Sampler for dissolved gases. Recovered.
Other dissolved gases41° 51' 29" N  18° 8' 6" W — PML Near Surface Sampler for dissolved gases. Recovered.
Other dissolved gases43° 23' 59" N  18° 18' 0" W — Neutrally buoyant float for oxygen, nitrogen, salinity and temperature measurements for use in air-sea flux calculations. Recovered
Data held at BODC 
Series/Profiles 
2  Pumped air sample
Sulphur species concentrations in the atmosphere
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Gas fluxes between the water column and the atmosphere
Date and time
Sampling parameters
Sulphur species concentrations in the atmosphere
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Gas fluxes between the water column and the atmosphere
Date and time
Sampling parameters

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
9072912007-06-24 13:00:45  — 2007-07-17 06:47:57 43° 31' 8" N  18° 0' 40" W — 55° 19' 2" N  9° 18' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 907291
9694482007-06-24 13:05:13  — 2007-07-17 06:01:38 43° 34' 49" N  18° 1' 3" W — 55° 17' 22" N  9° 24' 43" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 969448
Discrete samples 
543  All plastic clean surface pumped supplyOrganosulphur and organoselenium species concentration parameters in water bodies
48  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTransmittance and attenuance of the water column
Organosulphur and organoselenium species concentration parameters in water bodies
Optical backscatter
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Raw light meter output
Raw suspended particulate material concentration sensor output
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
62  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplyOrganosulphur and organoselenium species concentration parameters in water bodies
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column