RRS Discovery DY081
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74EQ) |
| Cruise identifier | DY081 |
| Cruise period | 2017-07-05 — 2017-08-08 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | St. John's, Canada |
| Port of return | Southampton, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | The high-latitude regions are experiencing some of the most rapid changes observed in recent decades. Arctic temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global mean, Greenland's glaciers are experiencing significant mass loss, multi-year Arctic sea-ice is declining, and the Nordic Seas are warming at an accelerated rate. These processes are important locally, but their effects are likely to have a global impact: for example, the North Atlantic receives freshwater from the Arctic, Greenland and Canada and is a formation locus of the deep-water masses, which represent a major component of ocean circulation that drives global heat and nutrient fluxes. Concurrently to the recently observed changes in ice dynamics and accessibility, there has been a significant increase in commercial interest of the natural resources in the ecosystems of the Arctic, surrounding seas and high-latitude North Atlantic. An understanding how natural resources - including fisheries, bird and mammal stocks that are essential for food and tourism - will respond in the future to increasing anthropogenic stress on a regional and global scale relies on an understanding of marine biogeochemistry and the sources and sinks of essential nutrients. The overall aim of ICY-LAB is to understand nutrient and isotope cycling in the climatically critical but understudied regions of the Labrador Sea and Greenland fjords, and the impact of cryosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere on the biogeochemistry of the region and the global oceans. The approach of ICY-LAB will be to capture the whole biogeochemical system in areas of marked environmental change using careful field sampling strategies, with research expeditions to coastal Greenland and the open ocean Labrador Sea. DY081 represents the key oceanic component of this sampling campaign, focusing on the influence of meltwater on nutrient cycling in the Labrador Sea. |
| Chief scientist | Katharine R Hendry (University of Bristol School of Earth Sciences) |
| Project | ICY-LAB: Isotope Cycling In The Labrador Sea |
| Coordinating body | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Cruise report |  (8.90 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Labrador Sea (Davis Strait) |
| Specific | Orphan Knoll, Southwest Greenland. |
| Track charts | (1.30 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Geochemical tracers (eg freons) | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Current meters | Quantity: activity duration in days = 35 Description: HULL MOUNTED ADCP. Teledyne OS075 ADCP and Teledyne OS150 ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | Quantity: activity duration in days = 35 Description: HULL MOUNTED ADCP. Teledyne OS075 ADCP and Teledyne OS150 ADCP. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Phosphate | Quantity: activity duration in days = 22 Description: UNDERWAY TOWFISH WATER SAMPLING. Discrete water samples taken (near surface) for nutrients, trace metals, trace metal isotopes. Radium isotope samples processed on board, other isotope systems will be processed on shore to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Phosphate | Quantity: number of samples = 66 Description: WATER BOTTLES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Discrete water samples taken for nutrients and their isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Phosphate | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Nitrate | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Nitrate | Quantity: number of samples = 66 Description: WATER BOTTLES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Discrete water samples taken for nutrients and their isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Nitrate | Quantity: activity duration in days = 22 Description: UNDERWAY TOWFISH WATER SAMPLING. Discrete water samples taken (near surface) for nutrients, trace metals, trace metal isotopes. Radium isotope samples processed on board, other isotope systems will be processed on shore to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Nitrite | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Nitrite | Quantity: number of samples = 66 Description: WATER BOTTLES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Discrete water samples taken for nutrients and their isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Nitrite | Quantity: activity duration in days = 22 Description: UNDERWAY TOWFISH WATER SAMPLING. Discrete water samples taken (near surface) for nutrients, trace metals, trace metal isotopes. Radium isotope samples processed on board, other isotope systems will be processed on shore to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Silicate | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Alkalinity | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Trace elements | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Trace elements | Quantity: number of samples = 66 Description: WATER BOTTLES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Discrete water samples taken for nutrients and their isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Trace elements | Quantity: activity duration in days = 22 Description: UNDERWAY TOWFISH WATER SAMPLING. Discrete water samples taken (near surface) for nutrients, trace metals, trace metal isotopes. Radium isotope samples processed on board, other isotope systems will be processed on shore to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Radioactivity | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Isotopes | Quantity: number of samples = 66 Description: WATER BOTTLES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Discrete water samples taken for nutrients and their isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Isotopes | Quantity: activity duration in days = 22 Description: UNDERWAY TOWFISH WATER SAMPLING. Discrete water samples taken (near surface) for nutrients, trace metals, trace metal isotopes. Radium isotope samples processed on board, other isotope systems will be processed on shore to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Isotopes | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of samples = 23 Description: STAND ALONE PUMP DEPLOYMENTS. Pancake filters housings were fitted with either plastic or glass-fibre filters for biogenic silica and trace metal analysis, and organic geochemistry respectively. Pumps were lowered to between 200-2400 m. Pumps were on for 1.5 hours before recovery. All saSmples will be analysed on shore. Samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Contamination | |
| Other contaminant measurements | Quantity: number of cores = 90 Description: PUSH CORES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Sediment cores ranging from 5 to 30 cm. Cores were: 1) Sectioned on board. Samples will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for biogeochemical and palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. amorphous silica, foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon and lead-201 dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Sediments will analysed for plastic debris. 2) Sampled for porefluids on board. Porefluids were extracted for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations. |
| Other contaminant measurements | Quantity: number of cores = 52 Description: MEGACORES. Sediment cores ranging from 10-40 cm long in water depths of 500 to 3700 m. Cores were: 1) Sectioned on board. Samples will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for biogeochemical and palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. amorphous silica, foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon and lead-201 dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Sediments will analysed for plastic debris; 2) Sampled for porefluids on board. Porefluids were extracted for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations; 3) Used for core incubation experiments on board. Core top waters were taken at time intervals for for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Primary productivity | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON) | Quantity: number of profiles = 24 Description: Vertical profiles (from 50-3800m) for 1) continuous reading physical measurements: pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescence, backscatter, oxygen, currents (LADCP); 2) discrete water samples: oxygen, carbonate chemistry*, natural radiocarbon*, nutrients*, pigments, trace elements and isotopes*, oxygen isotopes*, POC/PON*, biogenic silica*. Samples also taken for silicon-32 uptake incubations. *On shore analyses, to determine hydrographic and biogeochemical cycling regime of the study locations. |
| Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON) | Quantity: number of samples = 23 Description: STAND ALONE PUMP DEPLOYMENTS. Pancake filters housings were fitted with either plastic or glass-fibre filters for biogenic silica and trace metal analysis, and organic geochemistry respectively. Pumps were lowered to between 200-2400 m. Pumps were on for 1.5 hours before recovery. All saSmples will be analysed on shore. Samples were taken for biogeochemical investigations. |
| Benthic bacteria/micro-organisms | Quantity: number of specimens = 1116 Description: BIOLOGY COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Zoobenthos were collected for taxonomic, genetics, microbial and geochemical investigations. |
| Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of specimens = 1116 Description: BIOLOGY COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Zoobenthos were collected for taxonomic, genetics, microbial and geochemical investigations. |
| Molluscs | Quantity: number of specimens = 1116 Description: BIOLOGY COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Zoobenthos were collected for taxonomic, genetics, microbial and geochemical investigations. |
| Crustaceans | Quantity: number of specimens = 1116 Description: BIOLOGY COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Zoobenthos were collected for taxonomic, genetics, microbial and geochemical investigations. |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 90 Description: PUSH CORES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Sediment cores ranging from 5 to 30 cm. Cores were: 1) Sectioned on board. Samples will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for biogeochemical and palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. amorphous silica, foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon and lead-201 dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Sediments will analysed for plastic debris. 2) Sampled for porefluids on board. Porefluids were extracted for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations. |
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 52 Description: MEGACORES. Sediment cores ranging from 10-40 cm long in water depths of 500 to 3700 m. Cores were: 1) Sectioned on board. Samples will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for biogeochemical and palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. amorphous silica, foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon and lead-201 dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Sediments will analysed for plastic debris; 2) Sampled for porefluids on board. Porefluids were extracted for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations; 3) Used for core incubation experiments on board. Core top waters were taken at time intervals for for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations. |
| Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 5 Description: GRAVITY CORES. Sediment cores ranging from 0.82 to 5.15 m long in water depths of 1600 to 3700 m. Split and sectioned on board. Archive halves will be kept at BOSCORF; sampled halves will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes and organic geochemistry. |
| Bottom photography | Quantity: activity duration in days = 2 Description: Photogrammatry and multibeam reson surveys by remotely operated vehicle. |
| In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling | Quantity: number of cores = 90 Description: PUSH CORES COLLECTED BY REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. Sediment cores ranging from 5 to 30 cm. Cores were: 1) Sectioned on board. Samples will be sent to University of Bristol and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (USA). The sediments were taken for biogeochemical and palaeoceanographic investigations. Sediments will be analysed for e.g. amorphous silica, foraminiferal stable isotopes, radiocarbon and lead-201 dating, analysis of ice core debris, diatom assemblages and isotopes, and organic geochemistry. Sediments will analysed for plastic debris. 2) Sampled for porefluids on board. Porefluids were extracted for nutrients and nutrient isotopes. All analyses will be carried out on shore. The porefluids were taken for biogeochmeical investigations. |
| Single-beam echosounding | Quantity: activity duration in days = 35 Description: SINGLE BEAM ACOUSTICS. An EK60 profiler was used to determine the nature of the water column. A sub-bottom profiler SBP120 was used to determine the nature of the seafloor for identification of coring sites. Acoustics recorded in study region and on transit back to UK. |
| Multi-beam echosounding | Quantity: activity duration in days = 2 Description: Photogrammatry and multibeam reson surveys by remotely operated vehicle. |
| Multi-beam echosounding | Quantity: activity duration in days = 35 Description: MULTIBEAM ACOUSTICS. EM122, EM720 and Reson 7125 multibeam echosounder systems were used to map the bathymetry of the seafloor. Acoustics recorded in study region and on transit back to UK. |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | 62° 53' 59" N 52° 37' 59" W — Two Slocum gliders (units 331 and 439) deployed to measure pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescense, backscatter at highest resolution; diving from surface to 1000m; deployed on 17/07/2017 and recovered 24/07/2017 at Nuuk site. |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | 62° 53' 59" N 52° 37' 59" W — Two Slocum gliders (units 331 and 439) deployed to measure pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescense, backscatter at highest resolution; diving from surface to 1000m; deployed on 17/07/2017 and recovered 24/07/2017 at Nuuk site. |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | 62° 53' 59" N 52° 37' 59" W — Two Slocum gliders (units 331 and 439) deployed to measure pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescense, backscatter at highest resolution; diving from surface to 1000m; deployed on 17/07/2017 and recovered 24/07/2017 at Nuuk site. |
| Current meters | 62° 53' 59" N 52° 37' 59" W — Two Slocum gliders (units 331 and 439) deployed to measure pressure, temperature, conductivity, fluorescense, backscatter at highest resolution; diving from surface to 1000m; deployed on 17/07/2017 and recovered 24/07/2017 at Nuuk site. |
