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RRS Discovery DY103

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74EQ)
Cruise identifierDY103
Cruise period2019-06-21 — 2019-07-09
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnSouthampton, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTo study the oceanic water column and the underlying seabed change, on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. The objective of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained observatory is to provide high temporal resolution (hours) of an increasing number of variables which are relevant from the perspective of the biology, physics and chemistry over a relatively small spatial scale (30 km). The site has been under examination since 1985 and during that time, substantial changes have been observed in the benthic environment. The intention is to sustain and enhance these observations in order that a deeper understanding is obtained of the processes which operate; in particular the responses to the changes which are currently taking place in the global environment. The objective of the cruise was primarily to service the infrastructure required for continuous sustained observation, and to put these into context using observations from the ship which as yet cannot be carried out autonomously. In parallel to maintaining and extending exisiting measurements, the over view was enhanced by parallel research into the abundance and distribution of seafloor life in relation to incoming food flux. These investigations were carried out using a multi-instrument observational approach combined with direct sampling. The cruise achieved sampling of the abyssal plain seabed and its fauna via coring, trawling, and baited traps, and left in place a time-lapse camera system for extended (1-year) seafloor observation. In addition, we deployed an ADCP and sediment trap mooring in a central branch of Whittard Canyon on behalf of a partner NOC NERC-funded CLASS project component (NOC lead Drs V. Huvenne & M. Clare).
Chief scientistSusan E Hartman (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)
ProjectPorcupine Abyssal Plain deep ocean observatory
Coordinating bodyNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery DY103 cruise report dy103.pdf (13.05 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificPorcupine Abyssal Plain, Whittard Canyon.
Track chartsRRS Discovery DY103 cruise track — dy103trk.pdf (0.18 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 12
Description: CTD measurements of pressure, salinity, temperature, oxygen, chlorophyll, plus water samples from some CTDs for chlorophyll, oxygen, salinity, DIC and pH
Biology and fisheries 
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of stations = 4
Description: HyBIS towed camera, seafloor photography
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of stations = 6
Description: WP2, plankton net, 200 µm, to 200 m, 3 x midnight, 3 x noon
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of hauls = 2
Description: Otter trawl samples of megabenthos
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of stations = 8
Description: Megacore sediment samples for various analyses
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 2
Description: Otter trawl samples of megabenthos
MolluscsQuantity: number of hauls = 2
Description: Otter trawl samples of megabenthos
CrustaceansQuantity: number of hauls = 2
Description: Otter trawl samples of megabenthos
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Optics (eg underwater light levels)48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
Optics (eg underwater light levels)48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Current meters49° 1' 0" N  16° 30' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Recovery
Current meters48° 58' 0" N  16° 28' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Deployment
Current profiler (eg ADCP)48° 37' 59" N  10° 0' 0" W — ADCPs and sediment trap
Chemical oceanography 
Oxygen48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
Oxygen48° 58' 0" N  16° 28' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Deployment
Oxygen49° 1' 0" N  16° 30' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Recovery
Oxygen48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Carbon dioxide48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
Carbon dioxide48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Nitrate48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Nitrate48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
pH48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
pH48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Contamination 
Other contaminant measurements48° 37' 59" N  10° 0' 0" W — ADCPs and sediment trap
Biology and fisheries 
Primary productivity48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Primary productivity48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
Sediment traps48° 37' 59" N  10° 0' 0" W — ADCPs and sediment trap
Sediment traps48° 58' 0" N  16° 28' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Deployment
Sediment traps49° 1' 0" N  16° 30' 0" W — PAP3 deep-water sediment traps Recovery
Zooplankton48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Deployment
Zooplankton48° 58' 0" N  16° 22' 0" W — PAP1 Longterm Observatory Recovery
Zoobenthos49° 0' 0" N  16° 26' 59" W — Time-lapse camera deployment
Zoobenthos48° 57' 0" N  16° 28' 59" W — 2 x amphipod trap deployment / recovery
Crustaceans48° 57' 0" N  16° 28' 59" W — 2 x amphipod trap deployment / recovery
Geology and geophysics 
Bottom photography49° 0' 0" N  16° 26' 59" W — Time-lapse camera deployment
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
2  Acoustic current meter
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level
[Show series]
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20278312019-06-30 12:00  — 2020-11-19 12:00 48° 34' 49" N  16° 16' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2027831
20278182019-06-30 12:00  — 2020-11-19 12:00 48° 34' 49" N  16° 16' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2027818
35  Bottle station
Total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) concentration in the water column
Reference numbers
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Quality control flags
Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column
[Show series]
Total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2) concentration in the water column
Reference numbers
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Quality control flags
Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
19896932019-07-04 08:28 48° 59' 59" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989693
20016252019-06-23 14:15 49° 8' 16" N  13° 3' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001625
20016492019-06-25 14:59 48° 58' 18" N  16° 22' 21" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001649
20017302019-07-05 13:02 49° 0' 0" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001730
20041372019-06-29 16:17 48° 56' 34" N  16° 29' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004137
20041622019-07-01 14:35 48° 59' 59" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004162
19896442019-06-30 13:00 49° 2' 17" N  16° 31' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989644
19896812019-07-03 15:16 48° 57' 41" N  16° 22' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989681
20017052019-07-03 15:16 48° 57' 41" N  16° 22' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001705
20017292019-07-05 10:01 48° 57' 41" N  16° 23' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001729
20041502019-07-01 13:22 48° 56' 36" N  16° 29' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004150
19896202019-06-25 14:59 48° 58' 18" N  16° 22' 21" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989620
19897122019-07-05 13:02 49° 0' 0" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989712
20016372019-06-24 05:27 49° 0' 0" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001637
20041132019-06-24 05:27 49° 0' 0" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004113
20041982019-07-04 08:28 48° 59' 59" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004198
20042052019-07-05 10:01 48° 57' 41" N  16° 23' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004205
20042172019-07-05 13:02 49° 0' 0" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004217
19896562019-07-01 13:22 48° 56' 36" N  16° 29' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989656
19897002019-07-05 10:01 48° 57' 41" N  16° 23' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989700
20016622019-06-30 13:00 49° 2' 17" N  16° 31' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001662
20016742019-07-01 13:22 48° 56' 36" N  16° 29' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001674
20016502019-06-29 16:17 48° 56' 34" N  16° 29' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001650
20016862019-07-01 14:35 48° 59' 59" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001686
20017172019-07-04 08:28 48° 59' 59" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001717
20041012019-06-23 14:15 49° 8' 16" N  13° 3' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004101
19896072019-06-23 14:15 49° 8' 16" N  13° 3' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989607
19896192019-06-24 05:27 49° 0' 0" N  16° 30' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989619
19896322019-06-29 16:17 48° 56' 34" N  16° 29' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989632
20016982019-07-02 09:58 48° 59' 59" N  16° 30' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2001698
20041742019-07-02 09:58 48° 59' 59" N  16° 30' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004174
19896682019-07-01 14:35 48° 59' 59" N  16° 29' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1989668
20041252019-06-25 14:59 48° 58' 18" N  16° 22' 21" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004125
20041492019-06-30 13:00 49° 2' 17" N  16° 31' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004149
20041862019-07-03 15:16 48° 57' 41" N  16° 22' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2004186
1  In-situ dissolved gas analyser
Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved concentration parameters for other gases in the water column
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved concentration parameters for other gases in the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20732482019-07-03 15:01:57  — 2019-08-31 00:02:14 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2073248
2  In-situ nutrient analyser
Reference numbers
Date and time
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Date and time
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
22069452019-07-03 15:20:25  — 2019-08-31 00:20:25 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2206945
21433832019-07-04 00:20:02  — 2019-08-30 00:20:35 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2143383
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
[Show series]
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
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20469822019-06-21 15:38  — 2019-07-09 17:33 48° 35' 2" N  17° 1' 38" W — 51° 50' 26" N  1° 16' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2046982
4  Moored CTD
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Sea level
[Show series]
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Sea level
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
22059292019-07-08 06:25:09  — 2020-11-12 09:25:09 48° 37' 34" N  10° 0' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2205929
20269192019-07-03 15:15  — 2020-11-05 08:30 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2026919
20269072019-07-03 15:00:01  — 2020-11-05 08:30:06 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2026907
22059172019-07-08 07:12:21  — 2020-11-12 08:12:21 48° 37' 34" N  10° 0' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2205917
2  Multiple instrument types
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity 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
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Salinity 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
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20469942019-06-21 15:38  — 2019-07-09 17:33 48° 35' 2" N  17° 1' 38" W — 51° 50' 26" N  1° 16' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2046994
20732612019-07-03 15:30  — 2019-08-29 21:30 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2073261
1  Pumped water sample
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
[Show series]
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20521032019-06-22 15:30  — 2019-06-30 14:40 48° 49' 53" N  16° 31' 48" W — 51° 47' 17" N  7° 26' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2052103
1  Single-beam echosounder
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal platform movement
Bathymetry and Elevation
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal platform movement
Bathymetry and Elevation
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20469702019-06-21 15:38  — 2019-07-09 17:33 48° 35' 2" N  17° 1' 38" W — 51° 50' 26" N  1° 16' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2046970
1  radiometers
Reference numbers
Date and time
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
[Show series]
Reference numbers
Date and time
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
[Hide series]

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20521152019-07-03 14:47:05  — 2019-09-25 20:48:24 48° 57' 56" N  16° 22' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2052115
Discrete samples 
12  CTD frame plus rosette sampler
3  Instrument mooring
29  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply

 

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