SSV Corwith Cramer C290 (F2019-077)
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | SSV Corwith Cramer (33CC) |
| Cruise identifier | C290 (F2019-077) |
| Cruise period | 2020-02-10 — 2020-03-18 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Port of return | Christiansted, Virgin Islands, U.S. |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. Physical oceanographic studies focused on the characterization of the island wake effect around each Caribbean island. Evidence of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies were evaluated with ACDP data while associated areas of upwelling and downwelling were assessed with our continuous seawater flow-thru system measuring temperature and salinity and examination of mixed layer depth and thermocline position using CTD deployments. 2. Chemical oceanographic studies focused on the characterization of the island mass effect around each Caribbean island. Broad scale patterns of mass effect were assessed using chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements from our continuous seawater flow-thru system. In addition, 4 times daily we collected surface water and determined the geographic distribution of nutrients (phosphate), extracted chlorophyll-a, Escherichii coli bacteria and pH. These chemical parameters were related to patterns in physical hydrography at various scales: nearshore to offshore transitions, ocean fronts and eddies associated with the island passages and water column stratification. 3. Biological studies focused on the characterization of the island mass effect around each Caribbean island. The geographic distribution and abundance of charismatic megafauna (seabirds, sea turtles, flying fish, and marine mammals), several nektonic organisms (lantern fish - Family Myctophidae, and gelatinous organisms >2cm - i.e salps), meroplanktonic larvae including spiny lobster (phyllosoma) and eels (leptocephali), the floating macrophyte - Sargassum spp., the marine insect Halobates, and the density (mL/m2) and diversity (i.e. Shannon-Weiner index) of the aggregate zooplankton and phytoplankton communities were related to patterns in physical and chemical properties at various scales: nearshore to offshore transitions, ocean fronts and eddies associated with the island passages and water column stratification. |
| Chief scientist | Jeffrey M Schell (Sea Education Association) |
| Cruise report |  (0.25 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Caribbean Sea |
| Specific | North East and South East Caribbean Sea |
