Resources

RRS James Clark Ross JR15002

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS James Clark Ross (74JC)
Cruise identifierJR15002
Cruise period2015-11-12 — 2015-12-14
StatusCompleted
Port of departureStanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Port of returnStanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesJR15002 was a science cruise to the South Georgia region nested inside a combined logistic and science leg during voyage 25 of the RRS James Clark Ross. As part of the logistics element the ship undertook base reliefs at Signy (South Orkney Islands), and Bird Island and King Edward Point (South Georgia). During the science part of the cruise we undertook the Western Core Box survey to determine the distribution and biomass of krill northwest of South Georgia, refurbished the biological moorings in the South Georgia region and carried out a series of time stations across the Scotia Sea.
The main deliverable of the WCB is a consistent unique time series of mesoscale distribution and abundance of Antarctic krill and an understanding of the physical environment they are within at South Georgia, South Atlantic (1996 - current). These data are required to understand the long term variability in krill biomass at South Georgia and the influences from climate variability, fishing pressure and predation. Standard data sets include
1. Underway calibrated scientific biological echosounder acoustic transects
2. Vertical CTD profiles and continuous underway data
3. Stratified RMT8 hauls macrozooplankton/micronekton hauls
4. Targeted RMT8 hauls macrozooplankton/micronekton hauls

Two deep moorings located north-west and south-west of South Georgia are recovered and redeployed for sustained observations of zooplankton density and carbon export. Measurements were made at these moorings sites (as well as one other additional site) for carbon export and for zooplankton behaviour and effects of ocean acidification. BAS scientists were joined by PhD students from the DTP's EnvEast programme, from Bristol and Nottingham Universities in the UK and from Penn State University in the US.
Chief scientistGabriele Stowasser (British Antarctic Survey)
ProjectWestern Core Box
Coordinating bodyBritish Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Cruise reportRRS James Clark Ross JR15002 cruise report jr15002.pdf (2.90 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralSouth West Atlantic Ocean (limit 20W)
Southern Ocean
SpecificSouth Georgia
Track chartsRRS James Clark Ross JR15002 cruise track — jr15002trk.pdf (0.16 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
BathythermographQuantity: number of profiles = 25
Description: XBTs
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 35
Description: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements 75 kHz surveyor
Chemical oceanography 
Carbon dioxideQuantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
pHQuantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
pHQuantity: number of samples = 13
Description: Pteropod samples from MOCNESS and Bongo nets.
IsotopesQuantity: number of cores = 2
Description: Sediment cores for the collection of foraminifera
IsotopesQuantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 8
Description: Underway POM sampling for e-DNA analysis
Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids)Quantity: number of profiles = 11
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets. Two nets at each event. Targetted hauls and oblique trawls for krill samples (length frequency) and macrozooplankton sampling
Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids)Quantity: number of profiles = 7
Description: Underway phytoplankton
Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids)Quantity: number of profiles = 2
Description: Multiple Opening and Closing Net and Environmental Sampling System (MOCNESS) 9 opening and closing nets in vertical profiles to a depth of 1000m. Samples to be analysed for genetics, lipids and effects of ocean acidification
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of profiles = 7
Description: Underway phytoplankton
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of profiles = 17
Description: CTD casts. Continuous recordings Conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, transmittance, Lowered ADCP. Discrete bottle samples pH, fluorescence samples,PCO2
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of profiles = 2
Description: Multiple Opening and Closing Net and Environmental Sampling System (MOCNESS) 9 opening and closing nets in vertical profiles to a depth of 1000m. Samples to be analysed for genetics, lipids and effects of ocean acidification
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of profiles = 11
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets. Two nets at each event. Targetted hauls and oblique trawls for krill samples (length frequency) and macrozooplankton sampling
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of profiles = 7
Description: Zooplankton samples for microplastics from RMT8 nets
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 5
Description: Foraminifera samples from Bongo nets
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 13
Description: Pteropod samples from MOCNESS and Bongo nets.
NektonQuantity: number of profiles = 11
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets. Two nets at each event. Targetted hauls and oblique trawls for krill samples (length frequency) and macrozooplankton sampling
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: activity duration in days = 35
Description: EK60 multifrequency acoustic backscatter collected at 38, 120 and 200 kHz. Instrument calibrated in Stromness with known reference sphere. Data collected to 1100m
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of profiles = 11
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets. Two nets at each event. Targetted hauls and oblique trawls for krill samples (length frequency) and macrozooplankton sampling
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of cores = 2
Description: Sediment cores for the collection of foraminifera
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: activity duration in days = 6
Description: EM122 swath bathymetry data
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stations52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), SBE CTD (~600m)
CTD stations52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
CTD stations55° 15' 0" S  41° 16' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P2 Water depth: 3418 m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Aquadop current meter (~600m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m)
CTD stations55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Current meters55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Current meters52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), SBE CTD (~600m)
Current meters52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
Current meters55° 15' 0" S  41° 16' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P2 Water depth: 3418 m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Aquadop current meter (~600m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)55° 15' 0" S  41° 16' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P2 Water depth: 3418 m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Aquadop current meter (~600m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), SBE CTD (~600m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Chemical oceanography 
Oxygen55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Oxygen52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
Oxygen52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), SBE CTD (~600m)
Carbon dioxide55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Carbon dioxide52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
pH55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
pH52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment traps55° 15' 0" S  41° 16' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P2 Water depth: 3418 m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Aquadop current meter (~600m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m)
Sediment traps55° 15' 0" S  41° 15' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P2 Water depth: 3355m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment trap (~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~550m), Water sampler (~550m)
Sediment traps52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Deployed - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), SBE CTD (~600m)
Sediment traps52° 49' 0" S  40° 7' 0" W — Site: Recovered - P3 Water depth: 3787m Instrumentation: Main Buoy (~200m) - SBE CTD, RDI ADCP, SAMI pH sensor, Oceanus CO2 sensor. Aquadop current meter (~2000m), Sediment traps (~600m and ~2000m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~600m), SBE CTD (~600m), Water sampler (~600m)
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
24  Bathythermograph (MBT/XBT)
Reference numbers
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column
Reference numbers
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
17965222015-12-03 10:02 53° 52' 38" S  39° 26' 40" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796522
17965952015-12-05 09:01 53° 55' 27" S  38° 13' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796595
17966382015-12-06 09:05 53° 51' 42" S  37° 43' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796638
17965342015-12-03 11:09 53° 42' 1" S  39° 29' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796534
17965712015-12-04 10:38 53° 27' 52" S  38° 59' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796571
17967182015-12-06 16:39 53° 30' 3" S  37° 42' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796718
17967672015-12-04 12:57 53° 49' 4" S  38° 52' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796767
17965832015-12-04 11:47 53° 38' 25" S  38° 55' 44" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796583
17966632015-12-06 11:16 53° 30' 58" S  37° 50' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796663
17967552015-12-01 19:16 55° 14' 36" S  41° 15' 26" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796755
17966262015-12-05 12:23 53° 23' 49" S  38° 23' 33" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796626
17966512015-12-06 10:10 53° 41' 31" S  37° 47' 15" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796651
17966142015-12-05 11:15 53° 34' 22" S  38° 20' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796614
17966872015-12-06 12:26 53° 20' 8" S  37° 54' 15" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796687
17966992015-12-06 14:20 53° 8' 55" S  37° 49' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796699
17965582015-12-03 13:26 53° 20' 48" S  39° 36' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796558
17966022015-12-05 10:07 53° 44' 58" S  38° 16' 46" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796602
17967062015-12-06 15:31 53° 19' 28" S  37° 46' 22" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796706
17967432015-12-06 18:55 53° 51' 11" S  37° 35' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796743
17965102015-12-03 09:01 54° 2' 17" S  39° 23' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796510
17965462015-12-03 12:17 53° 31' 26" S  39° 33' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796546
17966752015-12-06 13:35 53° 9' 36" S  37° 57' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796675
17967312015-12-06 17:48 53° 40' 37" S  37° 39' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796731
17967792015-12-04 14:05 53° 59' 39" S  38° 49' 6" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1796779
17  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
18055332015-11-21 01:14 59° 41' 20" S  44° 3' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805533
18056132015-12-04 07:10 53° 29' 34" S  39° 15' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805613
18056492015-12-05 20:40 53° 42' 49" S  37° 57' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805649
18055692015-11-27 00:42 54° 9' 32" S  36° 41' 42" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805569
18056252015-12-04 22:11 53° 25' 56" S  38° 41' 42" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805625
18056742015-12-09 11:05 52° 37' 35" S  39° 6' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805674
18055212015-11-20 15:00 60° 12' 29" S  44° 24' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805521
18055452015-11-21 13:08 58° 1' 22" S  42° 59' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805545
18055702015-11-28 12:17 52° 48' 18" S  40° 5' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805570
18056502015-12-05 23:44 53° 21' 39" S  38° 4' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805650
18056622015-12-08 12:46 52° 48' 42" S  40° 6' 42" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805662
18055822015-11-30 13:02 55° 14' 33" S  41° 15' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805582
18055942015-12-01 11:16 55° 14' 5" S  41° 16' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805594
18055572015-11-22 13:55 55° 14' 22" S  41° 15' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805557
18056012015-12-03 20:27 53° 50' 46" S  39° 8' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805601
18056372015-12-05 06:09 53° 47' 5" S  38° 35' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805637
18055082015-11-12 11:12 51° 37' 27" S  57° 36' 4" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1805508
Discrete samples 
18  CTD frame plus rosette sampler
26  Expendable Bathythermograph