RRS Discovery DY130

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info.

Ship name (ship code)

RRS Discovery (74EQ)

Cruise identifier

DY130

Cruise period

2021-03-25 — 2021-04-14

Status

Completed

Port of departure

Southampton, United Kingdom

Port of return

Southampton, United Kingdom

Purpose

Research

Objectives

The aim of the RRS Discovery cruise 130 (DY130) to the PAP-SO was to service moorings at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) and Whittard Canyon. This cruise, including both the operations at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory and within the Whittard Canyon, forms part of the UK Natural Environment Council’s “Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science” (CLASS) project (https://projects.noc.ac.uk/class-project/sustained-ocean-observations), managed by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
At the PAP-SO open-ocean time-series site in the Northeast Atlantic (49.0 °N 16.5 °W, 4850 m water depth) studies are made on ocean-atmosphere interactions and pelagic-benthic coupling using a range of mooring systems and direct sampling approaches. Like Smart Bay in Galway, PAP-SO is an EMSO site.
A future NERC CLASS cruise will focus on the Whittard Canyon (expected 2021/22, delayed from 2020 by Covid-19) and will have direct participation by an Irish science team (National University of Ireland Galway). Preparation for that work includes a mooring in the eastern branch of Whittard Canyon (Irish EEZ) deployed in 2019 (RRS Discovery Cruise 103, http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525366/) and replaced on both DY116 and DY130.

The specific objectives of DY130 were:
Whittard Canyon (Irish EEZ):
1. Recovery of Whittard Canyon mooring (sediment trap, ADCP and CTD sensors)
2. CTD for testing release for new mooring
3. Deployment of replacement sediment trap mooring at Whittard Canyon
PAP-SO (International waters):
4. Recovery of sediment trap mooring at PAP-SO
5. Recovery of Met Office/NOC mooring with surface buoy
6. Deployment of sediment trap and sensors at PAP-SO
7. Deployment of new Met Office buoy with surface ocean biogeochemistry sensors at PAP-SO
8. Deployment of 3 gliders at PAP-SO
9. Photography of the seabed using an ROV (HyBIS)
10. Megacore sampling of the seabed
11. Short Agassiz trawls
12. WP2 zooplankton nets
13. Other associated CTDs at PAP-SO and in an eddy to the east of PAP-SO
14. Deployment of Met Office BGC Argo float (Euro Argo) in an eddy to the east of PAP-SO

Chief scientist

Susan E Hartman (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton)

Project

Marine LTSS: Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS)

Cruise report

(16.76 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)

Specific

Porcupine Abyssal Plain

Track charts

(0.40 MB)

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 and samples to validate the measurements. DY130-019

CTD stations

Quantity: number of stations = 10
Description: CTD profiles at PAP site. Includes release tests for mooring deployments, glider validations, PAP1 and PAP3 sensor data validation and water bottle samples. DY130- 027, 032, 045, 046, 053, 057, 065, 068, 071, 076

CTD stations

Quantity: number of profiles = 3
Description: CTD measurements of pressure, salinity, temperature, oxygen, chlorophyll, plus water samples from some CTDs for chlorophyll, oxygen, salinity, DIC

Biology and fisheries

Zooplankton

Quantity: number of stations = 24
Description: WP2, plankton nets for zooplankton and microplastics – along route in UK waters and again at PAP.

Zoobenthos

Quantity: number of cores = 12
Description: MacroBenthos; MeioBenthos; Foraminifera; Preserved Samples; Ecological Analysis

Zoobenthos

Quantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Benthic trawls for collection of Macro benthos and fish

Demersal fish

Quantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Benthic trawls for collection of Macro benthos and fish

Molluscs

Quantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Benthic trawls for collection of Macro benthos and fish

Crustaceans

Quantity: number of hauls = 4
Description: Benthic trawls for collection of Macro benthos and fish

Moorings, landers, buoys

Physical oceanography

Current meters

48° 59' 41" N 16° 24' 16" W — Deployment of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring, on 31/3/21 station DY130-024. Includes 3 x sediment trap, 1 x current meters and 2 x CTD.

Current meters

49° 0' 54" N 16° 26' 30" W — Recovery of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring on 5th April 2021, station DY116-007 that had been deployed on 20/11/20

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

48° 37' 36" N 10° 0' 18" W — Recovered a mooring that includes sediment trap, ADCP and in situ CTD sensor at the Whittard Canyon in Irish EEZ. Deployed 13th November 2020. Station number DY116-002 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 29 March 2021. Station number DY130-018. Mooring has no surface expression.

Chemical oceanography

Oxygen

49° 34' 59" N 14° 45' 0" W — Deployment of Biogeochemistry Argo Float. DY130-082

Oxygen

48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Deployed top part of PAP1 mooring that includes surface Met sensors and CO2 and oceanographic sensors on keel (CTD, Chlorophyll fluorescence, CO, O2) and added a sub-surface 30m frame of BGC sensors. Deployed 3/4/21 as DY130-038.

Oxygen

48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Recovered top part of previously deployed PAP mooring ie: surface Mobilis buoy. Full mooring deployed as DY116-008 (21/11/20)

Carbon dioxide

48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Recovered top part of previously deployed PAP mooring ie: surface Mobilis buoy. Full mooring deployed as DY116-008 (21/11/20)

Carbon dioxide

Biology and fisheries

Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)

48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Recovered top part of previously deployed PAP mooring ie: surface Mobilis buoy. Full mooring deployed as DY116-008 (21/11/20)

Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)

49° 34' 59" N 14° 45' 0" W — Deployment of Biogeochemistry Argo Float. DY130-082

Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)

Sediment traps

49° 0' 54" N 16° 26' 30" W — Recovery of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring on 5th April 2021, station DY116-007 that had been deployed on 20/11/20

Sediment traps

48° 59' 41" N 16° 24' 16" W — Deployment of PAP-SO sediment trap mooring, on 31/3/21 station DY130-024. Includes 3 x sediment trap, 1 x current meters and 2 x CTD.

Meteorology

Routine standard measurements

48° 57' 11" N 16° 19' 41" W — Recovered top part of previously deployed PAP mooring ie: surface Mobilis buoy. Full mooring deployed as DY116-008 (21/11/20)

Data held at BODC

Get data

Series/Profiles

2 Acoustic current meter

Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
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]

[Hide series]

BODC id	Date/Time	Location	Doc.
2054017	2021-03-31 15:30 — 2022-05-10 08:00	48° 59' 42" N 16° 24' 29" W
2054005	2021-03-31 15:30 — 2022-05-10 08:00	48° 59' 42" N 16° 24' 29" W

37 Bottle station

Reference numbers
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
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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BODC id	Date/Time	Location
2046380	2021-04-05 10:01:30	48° 52' 19" N 16° 31' 33" W
2046392	2021-04-06 07:32	48° 56' 7" N 16° 26' 32" W
2048755	2021-04-04 06:53	48° 57' 35" N 16° 26' 48" W
2048779	2021-04-05 10:01:30	48° 52' 19" N 16° 31' 33" W
2048780	2021-04-06 07:32	48° 56' 7" N 16° 26' 32" W
2048792	2021-04-07 09:17:30	48° 59' 59" N 16° 30' 0" W
2046343	2021-04-01 07:26	48° 56' 57" N 16° 26' 38" W
2048811	2021-04-08 11:34:30	49° 0' 0" N 16° 30' 1" W
2046379	2021-04-04 09:09	49° 4' 40" N 16° 30' 53" W
2046158	2021-03-28 16:13:30	48° 15' 27" N 10° 8' 51" W
2046331	2021-03-31 07:31	48° 56' 8" N 16° 26' 31" W
2046367	2021-04-04 06:53	48° 57' 35" N 16° 26' 48" W
2048731	2021-04-01 07:26	48° 56' 57" N 16° 26' 38" W
2048823	2021-04-09 08:52:30	48° 57' 43" N 16° 27' 22" W
2046306	2021-03-28 16:13:30	48° 15' 27" N 10° 8' 51" W
2046447	2021-04-12 01:40:30	49° 15' 37" N 14° 30' 13" W
2046411	2021-04-07 09:17:30	48° 59' 59" N 16° 30' 0" W
2046435	2021-04-09 08:52:30	48° 57' 43" N 16° 27' 22" W
2046214	2021-04-04 06:53	48° 57' 35" N 16° 26' 48" W
2046263	2021-04-07 09:17:30	48° 59' 59" N 16° 30' 0" W
2046275	2021-04-08 11:34:30	49° 0' 0" N 16° 30' 1" W
2046195	2021-04-01 07:26	48° 56' 57" N 16° 26' 38" W
2046202	2021-04-02 08:12	48° 56' 23" N 16° 27' 53" W
2046299	2021-04-12 01:40:30	49° 15' 37" N 14° 30' 13" W
2046251	2021-04-06 07:32	48° 56' 7" N 16° 26' 32" W
2046183	2021-03-31 07:31	48° 56' 8" N 16° 26' 31" W
2046226	2021-04-04 09:09	49° 4' 40" N 16° 30' 53" W
2046238	2021-04-05 10:01:30	48° 52' 19" N 16° 31' 33" W
2046318	2021-03-30 17:16	48° 49' 0" N 16° 26' 31" W
2046355	2021-04-02 08:12	48° 56' 23" N 16° 27' 53" W
2046423	2021-04-08 11:34:30	49° 0' 0" N 16° 30' 1" W
2048718	2021-03-31 07:31	48° 56' 8" N 16° 26' 31" W
2046171	2021-03-30 17:16	48° 49' 0" N 16° 26' 31" W
2046287	2021-04-09 08:52:30	48° 57' 43" N 16° 27' 22" W
2048767	2021-04-04 09:09	49° 4' 40" N 16° 30' 53" W
2048706	2021-03-30 17:16	48° 49' 0" N 16° 26' 31" W
2048743	2021-04-02 08:12	48° 56' 23" N 16° 27' 53" W

1 In-situ dissolved gas analyser

Reference numbers
Date and time
Metadata parameters
Partial pressure (pCO2) and fugacity (fCO2) of carbon dioxide in the water column

[Show series]

Reference numbers
Date and time
Metadata parameters
Partial pressure (pCO2) and fugacity (fCO2) of carbon dioxide in the water column

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BODC id	Date/Time	Location	Doc.
2162043	2021-04-03 13:55 — 2022-05-03 01:55:09	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W

2 In-situ nutrient analyser

Reference numbers
Date and time
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column

[Show series]

Reference numbers
Date and time
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column

[Hide series]

BODC id	Date/Time	Location	Doc.
2074725	2021-04-03 11:20:24 — 2022-04-18 08:20:24	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W
2159188	2021-04-03 12:10 — 2022-03-27 12:10	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W

1 Moored CTD

Reference numbers
Moored instrument depth
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column

[Show series]

[Hide series]

BODC id	Date/Time	Location	Doc.
2159281	2021-04-03 12:00:03 — 2022-05-05 09:45:03	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W

2 Pumped water sample

Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Nitrite concentration 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
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

[Show series]

[Hide series]

BODC id	Date/Time	Location	Doc.
2048699	2021-03-25 20:16 — 2021-04-10 15:00	48° 0' 19" N 16° 31' 33" W — 50° 9' 10" N 3° 35' 55" W
2046969	2021-03-25 20:16 — 2021-04-12 13:00	48° 0' 19" N 17° 26' 42" W — 50° 9' 10" N 3° 35' 55" W

5 Water temperature and/or salinity monitor

Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column

[Show series]

Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column

[Hide series]

BODC id	Date/Time	Location
2074670	2021-04-12 00:01 — 2022-01-13 15:31	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W
2074701	2021-04-12 00:01 — 2022-05-05 10:01	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W
2074694	2021-04-12 00:01 — 2022-05-05 10:01	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W
2074682	2021-04-12 00:01 — 2022-05-05 09:31	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W
2074713	2021-04-12 00:01 — 2022-03-15 21:31	48° 57' 33" N 16° 26' 14" W

Discrete samples

14 CTD frame plus rosette sampler

3 Instrument mooring

34 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply

Resources

RRS Discovery DY130

Cruise summary report

Quick links

BODC holdings

EDMED