RRS James Clark Ross JR20120601 (JR271)

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info.

Ship name (ship code)

RRS James Clark Ross (74JC)

Cruise identifier

JR20120601 (JR271)

Cruise period

2012-06-01 — 2012-07-02

Status

Completed

Port of departure

Immingham, United Kingdom

Port of return

Reykjavík, Iceland

Purpose

Research

Objectives

The JR271 Arctic research cruise was undertaken as part of the Sea Surface Research Consortium of the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. Research scientists participated in the cruise from several UK institutions involved in the UKOA Sea Surface Research Consortium including: the British Antarctic Survey, Marine Biological Association, National Oceanographic Centre, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Scottish Association for Marine Science, University College London and the University of Essex. The research vessel, officers, crew and ships technical support were provided by the British Antarctic Survey and National Marine Facilities.

Polar seas, such as the Arctic Ocean, are expected to be especially sensitive to the effects of ocean acidification, since more CO2 dissolves in cold water, making Arctic waters a valuable natural example of how the marine environment will respond to a high CO2 world. Also, the sensitivity of surface seawater in the Arctic will mean that they become corrosive to calcium carbonate before anywhere else in the world, which could pose a problem for marine plankton and other organisms that use calcium carbonate for their shells or skeletons. The overall aim of the cruise was therefore to obtain a quantitative understanding of the impact of ocean acidification on the surface ocean biology and ecosystem, and on the role of the surface ocean within the Arctic. Specifically, the high-level objectives were to:

1. Ascertain the impact of ocean acidification on planktonic organisms (in terms of physiological impacts, morphology, population abundances and community composition).
2. Quantify the impacts of ocean acidification on biogeochemical processes affecting the ocean carbon cycle.
3. Quantify the impacts of ocean acidification on the air-sea flux of climate active gases (DMS and N2O).

These objectives were achieved by undertaking in-situ observations across natural carbonate chemistry gradients, and by undertaking five on-deck CO2 perturbation incubations ("bioassays"). To our knowledge the cruise was the first attempt to link Arctic pelagic ocean carbonate system variations with sea-surface biology, biogeochemical rates and climate processes in such a comprehensive manner.

Chief scientist

Ray Leakey (Scottish Association for Marine Science)

Project

UK Ocean Acidification

Coordinating body

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Cruise report

(14.61 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

Barents Sea
North Sea
Greenland Sea
Norwegian Sea
Arctic Ocean
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)

Specific

North Sea, Icelandic Sea, Greenland Sea, Svalbard Shelf Seas, Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea.

Track charts

(0.18 MB)

Measurements

Physical oceanography

Surface measurements underway (T,S)

Quantity: track kilometres = 8150
Description: Sub-surface measurements underway (T,S, Fluorescence, Carbonate Chemistry, Nutrients)

Water bottle stations

Quantity: number of stations = 45
Description: Water bottle stations

CTD stations

Quantity: number of stations = 45
Description: CTD Stations

Optics (eg underwater light levels)

Quantity: number of stations = 45
Description: Optics

Chemical oceanography

Oxygen

Quantity: number of stations = 45
Description: Oxygen

Carbon dioxide

Quantity: number of stations = 45
Description: Carbon dioxide, Alkalinity, PH, Fe, Carbonate system

Phosphate