Resources

RRS Discovery D88

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD88
Cruise period1977-10-23 — 1977-11-16
StatusCompleted
Port of departureGibraltar, Gibraltar
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1. The collection of sediment samples, by conventional gravity coring and by box coring, for studies of the geochemistry and the meiofaunal content of recent sediments.
2. The collection of samples of suspended particulate material from large volume bottles for geochemical studies.
3. The collection and analysis of water samples of the abundance of dissolved selenium.
4. The collection of aerosol samples by conventional mesh sampling and by membrane filtration.
5. Replicate sampling of sediment pore water by in situ samples and shipboard squeezed box-core samples for comparison of experimental techniques of pore-water sampling.
6. The occupation of a series of in situ pore water sampler stations in the various sedimentary environments within the cruise area of work.
7. Extensive biological sampling near the mouth of the Porcupine Sea Bight, including benthic samples from an epibenthic sledge and semi-balloon otter-trawl, and mid-water samples from all horizons between the bottom and the surface using the combination net.
8. To test a new acoustically operated "pop-up" fish trap.
Subsidiary objectives:
1. The collection of large volume water samples for studies of the distribution of the lantharides (Leeds University).
2. The collection of water samples for the analysis of the abundance of dissolved iodine (Institute of Hydrology).
3. The collection of benthic organisms for studies of the distribution and organic associations of trace metals (IOS).
4. Trials of magnesium/nickel corrodable links using the fish trap.
Chief scientistAnthony L Rice (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Wormley Laboratory)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D88 cruise report d88.pdf (0.61 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Strait of Gibraltar (Mediterranean Sea)
Track chartsRRS Discovery D88 cruise track — trk2141.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 7
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 2
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of stations = 7
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 7
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 7
Trace elementsQuantity: number of stations = 7
Biology and fisheries 
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of samples = 2
Description: survey: taxonomy, energy transfers etc.
BirdsQuantity: number of observations = 180
Birds
Gear research
Exploratory fishingQuantity: number of hauls = 1
Description: fish trap with time-lapse camera system
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurementsDescription: continuous 2-min.samples
Other meteorological measurementsDescription: sea and swell
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of cores = 20
Description: chemical analysis
Single-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 2963
Other geological/geophysical measurementsQuantity: number of samples = 13
Description: pure water sampling