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RRS Discovery DY050

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74EQ)
Cruise identifierDY050
Cruise period2016-04-18 — 2016-05-08
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnSouthampton, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe oceanic water column and the underlying seabed change on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. The objective of the PAP observatory is to provide high temporal resolution (hours) of an increasing number of variables, which are relevant from the perspective of the biology, physics and chemistry over a relatively small spatial scale (30km). The site has been under examination for 30 years and during that time, substantial changes have been observed in the benthic environment. The intention is to sustain and enhance these observations in order that a deeper understanding is obtained into the processes which operate; in particular the responses to the changes that are currently taking place in the global environment. The objective of the cruise was primarily to service the infrastructure required for continuous sustained observation and to put these into context using observations from the ship, which, as yet cannot be carried out autonomously. These investigations were carried out using a multi-instrument observational approach combined with direct sampling. In addition the cruise achieved substantial sampling of the seabed of the PAP directly by coring, trawling and traps; and seasonally by time-lapse photography.
Chief scientistMark C Stinchcombe (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery DY050 cruise report dy050.pdf (12.07 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralCeltic Sea
SpecificPorcupine Abyssal Plain
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for salinity using the onboard salinometer.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for chlorophyll analysis on a Turner fluorometer.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for dissolved oxygen analysis using a Winkler titration.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for alkalinity analysis on a VINDTA.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for salinity measurements using the on board salinometer.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for inorganic nutrient analysis on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for salinity measurements using the on board salinometer.
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for dissolved oxygen analysis using a Winkler titration.
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for inorganic nutrient analysis on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
PhosphateQuantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for inorganic nutrients, to be run on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
NitrateQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for inorganic nutrient analysis on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
NitrateQuantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for inorganic nutrients, to be run on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
NitriteQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for inorganic nutrient analysis on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
NitriteQuantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for inorganic nutrients, to be run on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for inorganic nutrient analysis on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
SilicateQuantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for inorganic nutrients, to be run on an autoanalyser using standard colourimetric techniques.
AlkalinityQuantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for alkalinity, to be run on a VINDTA.
AlkalinityQuantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for alkalinity analysis on a VINDTA.
Contamination 
Other contaminant measurementsQuantity: number of measurements = 21
Description: Size fractionated assessment of microplastic pollution in the water column.
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 10
Description: Water samples taken for chlorophyll analysis on a Turner fluorometer.
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 26
Description: Underway samples were taken for chlorophyll, to be run on a Turner florometer.
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 41
Description: Sampling for aggregates (marine snow, fecal pellets and detritus). Used for incubations to study bacterial colonisation.
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 41
Description: Sampling for aggregates (marine snow, fecal pellets and detritus). Used to determine size specificsettling velocity and composition of aggregates.
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of measurements = 21
Description: Concentrations of particulate organic carbon and aragonite.
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of images = 17
Description: Images captured in the upper 300m of the water column using the holocam to determine aggregate abundance, size distribution and types.
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of images = 17
Description: Images captured in the upper 300m of the water column using the PELAGRA cam to determine aggregate abundance, size distribution and types.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 13
Description: WP2 nets (200µm mesh size), 200m vertical haul. Paired samples, midnight and noon. One frozen and one preserved in formalin.
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of hauls = 2
Description: Megabenthos.
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of cores = 14
Description: Samples taken for macrobenthos, metazoan meiobenthos, foraminifera, phospholipids, lipid biomarkers, pigments, eDNA and microplastics.
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 27' 0" N  15° 56' 59" W — PELAGRA (P4) recovery (23:42hrs, 03.05.2016) Station No. DY050-077
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) deployed (19:38hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-034
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (18:50hrs, 22.04.2016) Station No. DY050-008
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (08:13hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-076
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 8' 59" N  16° 4' 0" W — PELAGRA (P2) recovery (22:24hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-033
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 16' 0" N  15° 55' 59" W — PELAGRA (P7) recovery (21:56hrs, 29.04.2016) Station No. DY050-045
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 0' 0" N  16° 13' 0" W — PELAGRA (P7) recovery (19:33hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY050-009
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P4) deployed (08:16hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-077
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 59" N  16° 4' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (20:27hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY050-008
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 10' 59" N  15° 58' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) recovery (20:50hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-034
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (19:09hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-033
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 16' 0" N  16° 10' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) recovery (19:17hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-035
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P7) deployed (19:07hrs, 22.04.2016) Station No. DY050-009
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 21' 0" W — PELAGRA (P7) deployed (21:35hrs, 26.04.2016) Station No. DY050-045
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) deployed (08:27hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-079
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) deployed (08:19hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-078
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 1' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) deployed (20:10hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-035
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 37' 59" N  15° 41' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) recovery (05:06hrs, 04.05.2016) Station No. DY050-078
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements49° 28' 59" N  15° 52' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) recovery (01:53hrs, 04.05.2016) Station No. DY050-076
Other physical oceanographic measurements49° 1' 59" N  16° 18' 0" W — PAP1 mooring recovery (10:59hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY032-084
Other physical oceanographic measurements49° 2' 59" N  16° 18' 0" W — PAP1 mooring deployed (10:26hrs, 28.04.2016) Station No. DY050-057
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) deployed (08:19hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-078
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P4) deployed (08:16hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-077
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (08:13hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-076
Sediment traps49° 16' 0" N  15° 55' 59" W — PELAGRA (P7) recovery (21:56hrs, 29.04.2016) Station No. DY050-045
Sediment traps49° 10' 59" N  15° 58' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) recovery (20:50hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-034
Sediment traps49° 16' 0" N  16° 10' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) recovery (19:17hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-035
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 21' 0" W — PELAGRA (P7) deployed (21:35hrs, 26.04.2016) Station No. DY050-045
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) deployed (20:10hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-035
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) deployed (19:38hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-034
Sediment traps49° 28' 59" N  15° 52' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) recovery (01:53hrs, 04.05.2016) Station No. DY050-076
Sediment traps49° 27' 0" N  15° 56' 59" W — PELAGRA (P4) recovery (23:42hrs, 03.05.2016) Station No. DY050-077
Sediment traps49° 8' 59" N  16° 4' 0" W — PELAGRA (P2) recovery (22:24hrs, 27.04.2016) Station No. DY050-033
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (19:09hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-033
Sediment traps49° 1' 59" N  16° 4' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (20:27hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY050-008
Sediment traps49° 1' 59" N  16° 4' 59" W — PAP3 mooring recovered (18:36hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY032-046
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 30' 0" W — PAP3 mooring deployed (13:31hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY050-025
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P7) deployed (19:07hrs, 22.04.2016) Station No. DY050-009
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — PELAGRA (P2) deployed (18:50hrs, 22.04.2016) Station No. DY050-008
Sediment traps49° 0' 0" N  16° 13' 0" W — PELAGRA (P7) recovery (19:33hrs, 24.04.2016) Station No. DY050-009
Sediment traps49° 37' 59" N  15° 41' 59" W — PELAGRA (P6) recovery (05:06hrs, 04.05.2016) Station No. DY050-078
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 59" W — PELAGRA (P8) deployed (08:27hrs, 30.04.2016) Station No. DY050-079
Zoobenthos49° 4' 0" N  16° 19' 59" W — Amphipod trap recovery (20:29hrs, 03.05.2016) Station No. DY050-100
Zoobenthos49° 1' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — Amphipod trap deployed (13:52hrs, 25.04.2016) Station No. DY050-027
Zoobenthos49° 0' 0" N  16° 23' 59" W — Amphipod trap deployed (11:59hrs, 02.05.2016) Station No. DY050-100
Zoobenthos49° 1' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — Amphipod trap recovery (21:28hrs, 26.04.2016) Station No. DY050-027
Geology and geophysics 
In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling49° 1' 59" N  16° 23' 59" W — Bathysnap recovery (13:11hrs, 22.04.2016) Station No. DY032-103
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
2  Acoustic current meter
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Raw current meter output parameters
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level
[Show series]
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Raw current meter output parameters
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
19228262016-04-24 15:00  — 2017-04-23 13:00 49° 0' 26" N  16° 29' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1922826
19228382016-04-24 15:00  — 2017-04-23 13:00 49° 0' 26" N  16° 29' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1922838
30  Bottle station
Total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) concentration in the water column
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Quality control flags
Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
[Show series]
Total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) concentration in the water column
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Quality control flags
Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
18742512016-04-24 09:22 49° 0' 29" N  16° 27' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874251
18742632016-04-27 15:27 49° 0' 20" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874263
18742992016-04-30 13:22 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874299
21189822016-04-28 13:55 49° 0' 18" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118982
21190212016-05-01 19:38:30 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2119021
21387252016-04-24 09:21:30 49° 0' 29" N  16° 27' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138725
21387742016-05-01 19:38:30 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138774
21190082016-04-30 13:22 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2119008
21190452016-05-05 13:30 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2119045
21387492016-04-28 13:55 49° 0' 18" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138749
21387862016-05-02 20:36 49° 0' 42" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138786
18742262016-04-20 08:55 49° 36' 6" N  8° 21' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874226
18743062016-05-01 19:39 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874306
21387012016-04-20 08:55 49° 36' 3" N  8° 21' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138701
18742382016-04-22 16:25 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874238
18743182016-05-02 20:36 49° 0' 42" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874318
21387622016-04-30 13:22 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138762
18742872016-04-29 16:19 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874287
21189572016-04-22 16:25 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118957
21189942016-04-29 16:19 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118994
21190332016-05-02 20:36 49° 0' 42" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2119033
21387502016-04-29 16:19 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138750
21387982016-05-05 13:30 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138798
18742752016-04-28 13:55 49° 0' 18" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874275
18743312016-05-05 13:30 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1874331
21189452016-04-20 08:55 49° 36' 3" N  8° 21' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118945
21189692016-04-24 09:21:30 49° 0' 29" N  16° 27' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118969
21189702016-04-27 15:26:30 49° 0' 20" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2118970
21387132016-04-22 16:25 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138713
21387372016-04-27 15:26:30 49° 0' 20" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2138737
10  CTD/STD cast
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
22012462016-04-22 14:12:48  — 2016-04-22 15:51:35 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201246
22012832016-04-28 12:23:49  — 2016-04-28 13:46:17 49° 0' 18" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201283
22012952016-04-29 14:03:29  — 2016-04-29 16:07:50 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201295
22013382016-05-05 11:28:27  — 2016-05-05 12:18:56 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201338
22012342016-04-20 08:34:47  — 2016-04-20 08:40:23 49° 36' 5" N  8° 21' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201234
22013022016-04-30 13:08:42  — 2016-04-30 13:16:22 49° 0' 19" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201302
22013262016-05-02 17:49:15  — 2016-05-02 19:53:04 49° 0' 42" N  16° 23' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201326
22012582016-04-24 08:18:03  — 2016-04-24 08:41:02 49° 0' 29" N  16° 27' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201258
22012712016-04-27 14:08:29  — 2016-04-27 15:06:38 49° 0' 20" N  16° 23' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201271
22013142016-05-01 19:15:37  — 2016-05-01 19:35:21 49° 0' 20" N  16° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2201314
2  In-situ nutrient analyser
Reference numbers
Date and time
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Date and time
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
19208322016-04-28 12:20:24  — 2017-02-01 15:20:24 49° 2' 49" N  16° 18' 4" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1920832
21592682016-04-28 19:20:13  — 2016-08-18 07:20:12 49° 1' 41" N  16° 10' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2159268
3  Moored CTD
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
[Show series]
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20266552016-04-28 12:00:01  — 2017-04-17 23:30:01 49° 0' 1" N  16° 0' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2026655
20266672016-04-28 12:00:34  — 2017-04-17 23:30:46 49° 0' 1" N  16° 0' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2026667
20266432016-04-28 12:00:01  — 2017-04-17 23:30:01 49° 0' 1" N  16° 0' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2026643
Discrete samples 
10  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTotal dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) concentration in the water column
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column
2  Instrument mooring
27  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplyNitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column

 

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