Resources

RRS Discovery DY098

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74EQ)
Cruise identifierDY098
Cruise period2019-01-02 — 2019-02-10
StatusCompleted
Port of departureStanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Port of returnStanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesPOETS - WCB survey

1. Acoustic survey during daylight hours using multi-frequency (38, 70, 120 & 200 kHz) Simrad EK60 echosounder. Two transects to be run each day during a four day period.
2. Regular deployments of XBTs (Expendable bathythermographs) along transects during day.
3. Deployment of the CTD at minimum of two stations per night during survey.
4. Continuous operation of underway data logging system (bathymetry, location, sea surface temperature, sea currents, etc.).
5. Net sampling (RMT8 and other zooplankton/micronekton nets) at night-time stations plus target fishing during both night and day to ground-truth acoustic data.

6. Acoustic calibration using standard sphere techniques will be undertaken in one of the deep-water harbours on the North coast of South Georgia (Stromness Harbour is the preferred location).
7. Recover WCB mooring. Download data, refurbish and replace batteries. Redeploy mooring.

POETS - SCOOBIES (SCotia sea Open-Ocean BIological laboratoriES)
Mooring recovery, refurbishment and redeployment

1. Recover two deep-water moorings (SW and NW of South Georgia). Download data, refurbish and replace batteries. Redeploy moorings during cruise.
2. Net sampling (RMT8, MOCNESS and other zooplankton nets) over 24 hour periods at mooring stations.

2019 Large Scale krill survey

1. Acoustic survey during daylight hours using multi-frequency (38, 70, 120 & 200 kHz) Simrad EK60 echosounder. Two transects to be run each day during a four day period.
2. Deployment of the CTD at two stations per 24 hour period during survey.
3. Continuous operation of underway data logging system (bathymetry, location, sea surface temperature, sea currents, etc.).
4. Net sampling (RMT8 and other zooplankton/micronekton nets) at two stations per 24 hour period plus occasional target fishing during to ground-truth acoustic data.
Chief scientistSophie Fielding (British Antarctic Survey)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery DY098 cruise report dy098.pdf (6.17 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralSouthern Ocean
SpecificScotia Sea
Track chartsRRS Discovery DY098 cruise track — dy098trk.pdf (0.09 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 42
Description: Underway temperature, salinity, fluorescence, air temperature, wind speed
BathythermographQuantity: number of profiles = 10
Description: Expendable bathythermograph (XBT)
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
CTD stationsQuantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 42
Description: Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements 75 kHz
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Chemical oceanography 
IsotopesQuantity: number of deployments = 22
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8+1 (RMT8+1) opening and closing nets (8m and 1m2), mesh sizes 5mm and 300µm. Two nets per size each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Mesozooplankton samples were preserved. Macrozooplankton samples were preserved, also incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
IsotopesQuantity: number of deployments = 19
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets (8m), mesh size 5mm. Two nets each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Macrozooplankton sampling, incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
IsotopesQuantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
IsotopesQuantity: number of samples = 37
Description: Underway water samples for Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM)
Contamination 
Contaminants in organismsQuantity: number of deployments = 5
Description: Floating Sediment Trap. Samples were preserved to be analysed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and nano and microplastics
Contaminants in organismsQuantity: number of deployments = 11
Description: Neuston Modified (NEMO) net, mesh sizes 300µm inside a 100µm. Samples were preserved to be analysed for microplastics
Other contaminant measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 11
Description: Neuston Modified (NEMO) net, mesh sizes 300µm inside a 100µm. Samples were preserved to be analysed for microplastics
Other contaminant measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 5
Description: Floating Sediment Trap. Samples were preserved to be analysed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and nano and microplastics
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 37
Description: Underway water samples for Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM)
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC)Quantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC)Quantity: number of deployments = 5
Description: Floating Sediment Trap. Samples were preserved to be analysed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and nano and microplastics
Dissolved organic matter (inc DOC)Quantity: number of samples = 37
Description: Underway water samples for Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM)
Sediment trapsQuantity: number of deployments = 5
Description: Floating Sediment Trap. Samples were preserved to be analysed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and nano and microplastics
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 8
Description: Underway water samples for phytoplankton DNA
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 28
Description: Bongo net, mesh sizes 100µm and 200µm. Samples were preserved to be analysed for phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity. Also macrozooplankton incubation experiments (temperature, acidification and nanoplastic effects on reproduction success)
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 33
Description: Conductivity-temperature-depth casts recording conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, PAR, lowered ADCP. Discrete Niskin bottle samples for analysis of chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton species (lugols samples), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), High Molecular Weight Dissolved Organic Matter (H-DOM) and phytoplankton DNA
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 28
Description: Bongo net, mesh sizes 100µm and 200µm. Samples were preserved to be analysed for phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity. Also macrozooplankton incubation experiments (temperature, acidification and nanoplastic effects on reproduction success)
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 46
Description: Underway water samples for plankton, mesh sizes 200µm and 63µm.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 19
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets (8m), mesh size 5mm. Two nets each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Macrozooplankton sampling, incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of deployments = 22
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8+1 (RMT8+1) opening and closing nets (8m and 1m2), mesh sizes 5mm and 300µm. Two nets per size each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Mesozooplankton samples were preserved. Macrozooplankton samples were preserved, also incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
NektonQuantity: number of deployments = 19
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets (8m), mesh size 5mm. Two nets each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Macrozooplankton sampling, incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
NektonQuantity: number of deployments = 22
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8+1 (RMT8+1) opening and closing nets (8m and 1m2), mesh sizes 5mm and 300µm. Two nets per size each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Mesozooplankton samples were preserved. Macrozooplankton samples were preserved, also incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
Eggs and larvaeQuantity: number of deployments = 22
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8+1 (RMT8+1) opening and closing nets (8m and 1m2), mesh sizes 5mm and 300µm. Two nets per size each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Mesozooplankton samples were preserved. Macrozooplankton samples were preserved, also incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
Eggs and larvaeQuantity: number of deployments = 19
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets (8m), mesh size 5mm. Two nets each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Macrozooplankton sampling, incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
Mammals and reptilesQuantity: activity duration in days = 42
Description: Marine mammal (whale) observations were taken during all periods on passage/transect
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of deployments = 19
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8 (RMT8) opening and closing nets (8m), mesh size 5mm. Two nets each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Macrozooplankton sampling, incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of deployments = 22
Description: Rectangular Midwater Trawl 8+1 (RMT8+1) opening and closing nets (8m and 1m2), mesh sizes 5mm and 300µm. Two nets per size each event. Targeted hauls for Antarctic krill and oblique trawls for zooplankton samples. Mesozooplankton samples were preserved. Macrozooplankton samples were preserved, also incubation experiments (temperature, acidification, mercury, nanoplastic effects on reproduction success), length frequency and stable isotope analysis
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.Quantity: activity duration in days = 42
Description: EK60 operating at 18, 38, 70, 120, 200 and 333 kHz. Calibrated at King Edward Point, South Georgia. Note problem with 18 kHz transducer
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stations52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
CTD stations53° 47' 52" S  37° 56' 2" W — Site: WCB, deployed on 23/01/2018. SBE CTD (~200m), SonoVault acoustic listening (~250m), WBAT echosounder
CTD stations52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Current meters52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Current profiler (eg ADCP)52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Chemical oceanography 
Oxygen52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Carbon dioxide52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Carbon dioxide52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
pH52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
pH52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Other chemical oceanographic measurements52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Other chemical oceanographic measurements52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment traps52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Sediment traps52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Phytoplankton52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)
Acoustic reflection on marine organisms.53° 47' 52" S  37° 56' 2" W — Site: WCB, deployed on 23/01/2018. SBE CTD (~200m), SonoVault acoustic listening (~250m), WBAT echosounder
Other biological/fisheries measurement52° 47' 52" S  40° 11' 43" W — Site: P3, recovered on 05/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Seaguard current meter & O2 sensor (~200m and ~600m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Aquamonitor, PCO2 (~200m)
Other biological/fisheries measurement53° 47' 52" S  37° 56' 2" W — Site: WCB, deployed on 23/01/2018. SBE CTD (~200m), SonoVault acoustic listening (~250m), WBAT echosounder
Other biological/fisheries measurement52° 47' 55" S  40° 9' 30" W — Site: P3, deployed on 12/01/2019. SBE CTD (~200m and ~600m), RDI ADCP (~200m), Sediment trap (~600m and ~2000m), SAMI pH meter, Phytoplankton sampler, PCO2 (~200m)