RRS Discovery DY116
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74EQ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise identifier | DY116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise period | 2020-11-10 — 2020-11-26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Completed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port of departure | Southampton, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port of return | Southampton, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purpose | Research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Objectives | RRS Discovery cruise 116 departed Southampton 10th November 2020, operated in the Whittard Canyon (12-13th November) and the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory area (19-23 November), returning to Southampton 26th November 2020.
The goal of the cruise was to continue time-series observations of the surface ocean, water column, and seafloor at the site, as first studied by NOC (then the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences) in 1985. An additional goal was to service a mooring at Whittard Canyon. Operations were limited in scope because of the Covid-19 pandemic which affected all aspects of life in 2020. DY116 was delayed from June/July until November 2020 and proceeded with reduced personnel and limited scope. The specific aims were to recover data and infrastructure and deploy replacement moorings. The regular sampling programme at PAP-SO did not take place because of the need for social distancing. Shortly before departing the PAP1 surface buoy had become detached from the mooring and was recovered by the FS Maria S. Merian. The PAP1 mooring was successfully deployed including replacement of the full ocean depth mooring. The surface buoy was upgraded to a Met Office Mobilis buoy. The 30 m sensor frame was not included in the first deployment but will return on in 2021. The PAP3 mooring, a sediment trap and current meter string, was successfully recovered and redeployed. Colonisation substrates and larval traps for the on-going LO3CAted (Larval Occurrences in Open Ocean: Connectivity studies in NE Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea) project were recovered from PAP3. The Bathysnap seafloor time-lapse camera, and associated LO3CAted samplers, was recovered but unfortunately it had flooded. A series of water column observation and sampling operations were successfully carried out with a CTD instrument package. The CTD deployments included pre-and post-deployment calibrations of PAP1 and PAP3 sensors. Underway data were collected and a Met Office Biogeochemistry Argo float was deployed. At Whittard Canyon the mooring was successfully recovered and replaced. This cruise was a contribution to the Climate Linked Atlantic Section Science (CLASS) project supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (grant number NE/R015953/1). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief scientist | Andrew R Gates (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project | Marine LTSS: Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruise report |  (8.87 MB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ocean/sea areas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific | Porcupine Abyssal Plain, Whittard Canyon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Measurements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Quantity: number of track lines = 1 Description: Underway measurements for the duration of the cruise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 1 Description: CTD profile in Irish EEZ. Primarily for release test for Whittard Canyon mooring deployment but sensor data collected. No water bottle samples. DY116-001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD profiles at PAP site. 2 x shallow (500 m), 2 x deep (4700 m) Includes release tests for mooring deployments, sensor data and water bottle samples. DY116-003, DY116-005, DY116-012 & DY116-013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current meters | 49° 0' 54" N 16° 26' 30" W — Deployment of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring, 20/11/2020, DY116-007. Inculdes 3 x sediment trap, 1 x current meters and 2 x CTD. DY116-007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current meters | 48° 58' 0" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovery of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring 19/11/2020. Deployed as DY103-009 on 29/06/2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 48° 37' 36" N 10° 0' 11" W — Recovered a mooring that includes sediment trap, ADCP and in situ CTD sensor at the Whittard Canyon in Irish EEZ. Deployed 08 July 2019, recovered 12 November 2020. Station number DY103-041 Mooring had no surface expression | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 48° 37' 36" N 10° 0' 18" W — Deployed a mooring that includes sediment trap, ADCP and in situ CTD sensor at the Whittard Canyon in Irish EEZ 13 November 2020. Station number DY116-002. Mooring has no surface expression. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oxygen | 48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Deployed mooring that includes surface Met sensors and CO2 and oceanographic sensors on keel (CTD, Chlorophyll fluorescence, CO, O2). Deployed 21/11/2020 as DY116-008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oxygen | 49° 0' 0" N 16° 30' 6" W — Deployment of Biogeochemistry Argo Float. DY116-006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oxygen | 48° 57' 54" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovered previously deployed PAP mooring that includes surface buoy and subsurface sensor frame. Full mooring deployed as JC165-058 (04/06/2018), buoy and sensor frame replace in 2019 as DY103-028 (03/07/2019). Buoy was lost to big storm and recovered by German research ship. Rest of mooring recovered on 22/11/2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon dioxide | 48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Deployed mooring that includes surface Met sensors and CO2 and oceanographic sensors on keel (CTD, Chlorophyll fluorescence, CO, O2). Deployed 21/11/2020 as DY116-008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carbon dioxide | 48° 57' 54" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovered previously deployed PAP mooring that includes surface buoy and subsurface sensor frame. Full mooring deployed as JC165-058 (04/06/2018), buoy and sensor frame replace in 2019 as DY103-028 (03/07/2019). Buoy was lost to big storm and recovered by German research ship. Rest of mooring recovered on 22/11/2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biology and fisheries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | 49° 0' 0" N 16° 30' 6" W — Deployment of Biogeochemistry Argo Float. DY116-006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | 48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Deployed mooring that includes surface Met sensors and CO2 and oceanographic sensors on keel (CTD, Chlorophyll fluorescence, CO, O2). Deployed 21/11/2020 as DY116-008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | 48° 57' 54" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovered previously deployed PAP mooring that includes surface buoy and subsurface sensor frame. Full mooring deployed as JC165-058 (04/06/2018), buoy and sensor frame replace in 2019 as DY103-028 (03/07/2019). Buoy was lost to big storm and recovered by German research ship. Rest of mooring recovered on 22/11/2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 49° 0' 54" N 16° 26' 30" W — Deployment of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring, 20/11/2020, DY116-007. Inculdes 3 x sediment trap, 1 x current meters and 2 x CTD. DY116-007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 48° 37' 36" N 10° 0' 18" W — Deployed a mooring that includes sediment trap, ADCP and in situ CTD sensor at the Whittard Canyon in Irish EEZ 13 November 2020. Station number DY116-002. Mooring has no surface expression. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 48° 58' 0" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovery of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring 19/11/2020. Deployed as DY103-009 on 29/06/2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sediment traps | 48° 37' 36" N 10° 0' 11" W — Recovered a mooring that includes sediment trap, ADCP and in situ CTD sensor at the Whittard Canyon in Irish EEZ. Deployed 08 July 2019, recovered 12 November 2020. Station number DY103-041 Mooring had no surface expression | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoobenthos | 49° 0' 11" N 16° 26' 35" W — Seabed time-lapse camera recovered 19/11/2020, deployed in 06/07/2019 as DY103-039. Camera flooded so no data expected. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Meteorology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Routine standard measurements | 48° 57' 54" N 16° 29' 48" W — Recovered previously deployed PAP mooring that includes surface buoy and subsurface sensor frame. Full mooring deployed as JC165-058 (04/06/2018), buoy and sensor frame replace in 2019 as DY103-028 (03/07/2019). Buoy was lost to big storm and recovered by German research ship. Rest of mooring recovered on 22/11/2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Routine standard measurements | 48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Deployed mooring that includes surface Met sensors and CO2 and oceanographic sensors on keel (CTD, Chlorophyll fluorescence, CO, O2). Deployed 21/11/2020 as DY116-008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 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
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| 15 Bottle station | Reference numbers Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Quality control flags Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Reference numbers Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Quality control flags Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
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| 1 Fluorometers | Reference numbers Date and time Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
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| 2 Gas analyser | Reference numbers Date and time Metadata parameters Partial pressure (pCO2) and fugacity (fCO2) of carbon dioxide in the water column Carbon monoxide and dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere Reference numbers Date and time Metadata parameters Partial pressure (pCO2) and fugacity (fCO2) of carbon dioxide in the water column Carbon monoxide and dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere
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| 1 In-situ dissolved gas analyser | Reference numbers Date and time Temperature of the water column Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Reference numbers Date and time Temperature of the water column Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
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| 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 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
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| 1 Multi-beam echosounder | Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Platform or instrument orientation Horizontal platform movement Bathymetry and Elevation Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Platform or instrument orientation Horizontal platform movement Bathymetry and Elevation
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| 1 Multiple instrument types | Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature 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 Reference numbers Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Date and time Salinity of the water column Temperature 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
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| 1 Pumped water sample | Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Date and time Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
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| Discrete samples | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Instrument mooring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply |
