Resources

RRS James Cook JC136

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS James Cook (740H)
Cruise identifierJC136
Cruise period2016-05-14 — 2016-06-23
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnSouthampton, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesCruise JC136 is associated with a NERC joint standard research grant (NE/K011855/1 and NE/K013513/1) entitled "Influence of population connectivity on depth-dependent diversity of deep-sea marine benthic biota". The aims of this project are to investigate connectivity among deep-sea populations at different depths and spatial scales using: 1) larval dispersal modelling using Lagrangian particle tracking, driven by hydrographic models, 2) population genetics/genomics and 3) benthic community analysis. The aims of cruise JC136 were then to sample a range of sites and depth bands to:
1. obtain physical samples of 4 model organisms for molecular analysis.
2. gather benthic biological survey data for community level analysis.
3. collect oceanographic data to validate high resolution oceanographic models with which we will model larval dispersal.

We visited 5 sites in the NE Atlantic (Rockall Bank, George Bligh Bank, Anton Dohrn Seamount, Wyville-Thomson Ridge, and Rosemary Bank) undertaking 27 ROV dives, 12 AUV missions, 43 CTD casts, 2 mooring deployments and equipment trials. All cruise aims were broadly met. We obtained 3630 biological samples, including sufficient depth and site coverage for molecular analysis of 3 target species. We obtained video transect data with sufficient replication and depth stratification from 3 sites and near complete sampling from a 4th. We obtained sufficient oceanographic data to validate our models. In addition, we gathered 5811.66 km2 of seafloor multibeam to contribute to ongoing efforts to map the North Atlantic, including the first multibeam from the Geike Slide and Hebridean Slope Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA). Poor visitbility at the seabed prevented a planned resurvey of the Darwin Mounds Marine Protected Area (MPA) (see JC60).
Chief scientistKerry Howell (University of Plymouth School of Marine Science and Engineering), Michelle L Taylor (University of Oxford Department of Zoology)
Cruise reportRRS James Cook JC136 cruise report jc136.pdf (6.30 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificNortheast Atlantic (Rockall Bank, George Bligh Bank, Anton Dohrn Seamount, Wyville-Thomson Ridge and Rosemary Bank).
Track chartsRRS James Cook JC136 cruise track — jc136trk.pdf (0.55 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 43
Description: A CTD Sea-Bird 9plus underwater unit was used that recorded a set of standard parameters of sea water (salinity, temperature, depth) in a binary format. A TRDI WHM 300kHz Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (LADCP) was installed in a downward-looking orientation on the CTD frame for measurements of the velocity components.
Biology and fisheries 
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of track lines = 42
Description: A total of 42, 750 km long video transects were achieved across five sites using the Isis ROV during the cruise, for the purposes of assessing faunal diversity and community composition.
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of dives = 27
Description: Twenty seven ROV dives were undertaken during the course of the cruise for video transects and biological sample collection.
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of samples = 3630
Description: A total of 3630 biological samples of four target species were collected for molecular analysis. Sufficient depth and site coverage were achieved for 3 of these species.
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of dives = 27
Description: Twenty seven ROV dives were undertaken during the course of the cruise for video transects and biological sample collection.
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of track lines = 42
Description: A total of 42, 750 km long video transects were achieved across five sites using the Isis ROV during the cruise, for the purposes of assessing faunal diversity and community composition.
Bottom photographyQuantity: number of dives = 12
Description: Twelve AUV missions were completed during the cruise to collect multibeam, side scan sonar, and image data.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 532
Description: Collected using the ship's system EM120, to be processed at BGS, Edinburgh
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: survey square kilometres = 5811.66
Description: Multibeam data collected using the ship's systems EM120 (depths greater than 800 m) and EM710 (depths less than 800 m), and the EM2040 on Autosub6000 processed onboard the ship.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of dives = 12
Description: Twelve AUV missions were completed during the cruise to collect multibeam, side scan sonar, and image data.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 83
Description: Collected using the EM2040 on Autosub6000, to be processed at BGS, Edinburgh
Long/short range side scan sonarQuantity: track kilometres = 89
Description: Side scan and chirp data collected using the EM2040 on Autosub6000, to be processed at BGS, Edinburgh.
Long/short range side scan sonarQuantity: number of dives = 12
Description: Twelve AUV missions were completed during the cruise to collect multibeam, side scan sonar, and image data.
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Current profiler (eg ADCP)57° 37' 0" N  10° 49' 0" E — Mooring deployed at 1220 m depth. Equipped with upward-looking TRDI 75kHz ADCPs for measurements of current velocities in the whole water column and 300KHz downward-looking ADCP for measurements in the bottom layer.
Current profiler (eg ADCP)57° 36' 0" N  10° 49' 59" E — Mooring deployed at 808 m depth. Equipped with upward-looking TRDI 75kHz ADCPs for measurements of current velocities in the whole water column and 300KHz downward-looking ADCP for measurements in the bottom layer.
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
1  Meteorological data logger
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Air pressure
Date and time
Air temperature
Wind strength and direction
Raw light meter output
Solar Radiation
Atmospheric humidity
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Air pressure
Date and time
Air temperature
Wind strength and direction
Raw light meter output
Solar Radiation
Atmospheric humidity

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20120942016-05-14 08:00  — 2016-06-22 09:47 49° 51' 4" N  14° 0' 18" W — 59° 51' 15" N  0° 59' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2012094
1  Multi-beam echosounder
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal platform movement
Bathymetry and Elevation
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal platform movement
Bathymetry and Elevation

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20121132016-05-14 08:00  — 2016-06-22 09:47 49° 51' 4" N  14° 0' 18" W — 59° 51' 15" N  0° 59' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2012113
1  Multiple instrument types
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Metadata parameters
Raw suspended particulate material concentration sensor output
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Metadata parameters
Raw suspended particulate material concentration sensor output
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20121012016-05-14 08:00  — 2016-06-22 09:47 49° 51' 4" N  14° 0' 18" W — 59° 51' 15" N  0° 59' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2012101
Discrete samples 
43  CTD frame plus rosette sampler
2  Instrument mooring