Resources

RRS Discovery D333

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD333
Cruise period2008-10-09 — 2008-10-24
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Port of returnSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThis equipment trials cruise has provided opportunities for test and verification of technology under development at the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL), the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOC,S). This includes equipment developed during the first year of funding under OCEANS 2025 (theme 8). Testing technology in the ocean environment is invaluable in assessing fitness for purpose.

Specifically, the cruise tested: A Spar wave buoy (NOC,S) biogeochemical sensors (NOC,S); an UAV system (NOC,S); a video grab system "HyBis" (NOC,S), A benthic Multicore (NOC,S), A benthic lander and associated torroidal Telemetry buoy (POL), and a shallow tow towfish (POL). Testing in Spanish waters (near Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura) has been invaluable. The time on passage has been minimised (the transition from deep to shallow water is less than a days steaming) and the calm conditions to the southwest of the islands in the consistent prevailing north easterly winds have enabled deployment and recovery techniques to be tried and optimised in safety.
Chief scientistMatthew Mowlem (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)
ProjectMultidisciplinary Equipment Trials Cruise (METriC)
Coordinating bodyNational Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D333 cruise report d333.pdf (5.13 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Atlantic Ocean
SpecificCanary Islands
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsDescription: Equipment trials of Lab on a chip nitrate sensor with CTD as reference. CTD data retained. Station 16466#H 15:12- 17:12 (GMT), 21/10/2008
CTD stationsDescription: Equipment trials of Lab on a chip nitrite sensor with CTD as reference. CTD data retained. Sensor failed at depth. Station 16466#H 15:12- 17:12 (GMT), 21/10/2008
CTD stationsDescription: Equipment trials of idronaut CTD with pH sensors. data retained. 9:06- 12:30 (GMT), 21/10/2008
Surface drifters/drifting buoysDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16449#B, 12:45 (GMT), 15/10/2008 - 7:27 (GMT) 18/10/08 at 27 51.6 N, 14 48.5 W
Surface drifters/drifting buoysDescription: wave height measurements (15Hz) using spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16447#B, 07:30-9:14 (GMT), 15/10/2008
Surface drifters/drifting buoysDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station16463#B, 14:15 - 17:50 (GMT), 21/10/2008 recovered at 27 59.6N, 14 03.9 W
Surface drifters/drifting buoysDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station16469#B, 13:10 - 18:39 (GMT), 22/10/2008 recovered at 27 55.5N, 14 07.6 W
Surface drifters/drifting buoysDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16457#B, 08:50-18:10 (GMT), 19/10/2008 recovered at 27 55.5N, 14 05.3 W
Instrumented wave measurementsDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16449#B, 12:45 (GMT), 15/10/2008 - 7:27 (GMT) 18/10/08 at 27 51.6 N, 14 48.5 W
Instrumented wave measurementsDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station16469#B, 13:10 - 18:39 (GMT), 22/10/2008 recovered at 27 55.5N, 14 07.6 W
Instrumented wave measurementsDescription: wave height measurements (15Hz) using spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16447#B, 07:30-9:14 (GMT), 15/10/2008
Instrumented wave measurementsDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station 16457#B, 08:50-18:10 (GMT), 19/10/2008 recovered at 27 55.5N, 14 05.3 W
Instrumented wave measurementsDescription: Equipment trials of wave height measuring (15Hz) spar buoy with video and stills images for breaker identification. Station16463#B, 14:15 - 17:50 (GMT), 21/10/2008 recovered at 27 59.6N, 14 03.9 W
Chemical oceanography 
NitrateDescription: Equipment trials of Lab on a chip nitrate sensor with CTD as reference. CTD data retained. Station 16466#H 15:12- 17:12 (GMT), 21/10/2008
NitriteDescription: Equipment trials of idronaut CTD with pH sensors. data retained. 9:06- 12:30 (GMT), 21/10/2008
NitriteDescription: Equipment trials of Lab on a chip nitrite sensor with CTD as reference. CTD data retained. Sensor failed at depth. Station 16466#H 15:12- 17:12 (GMT), 21/10/2008
Geology and geophysics 
GrabDescription: Equipment trials of the HyBIS video grab system. Station 16460#A, 07:55-11:35 (GMT), 20/10/2008
GrabDescription: Equipment trials of the HyBIS video grab system. Station 16455#A, 12:00-19:51 (GMT), 18/10/2008
GrabQuantity: number of samples = 1
Description: Sampled with HyBIS at Station 16446#A, 10:33-14:55 (GMT), 14/10/2008
Bottom photographyDescription: Equipment trials of the HyBIS video grab system. Station 16460#A, 07:55-11:35 (GMT), 20/10/2008
Bottom photographyDescription: Equipment trials of the HyBIS video grab system. Station 16455#A, 12:00-19:51 (GMT), 18/10/2008