Resources

RRS Charles Darwin CD62A

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Charles Darwin (74AB)
Cruise identifierCD62A
Cruise period1991-09-06 — 1991-09-28
StatusCompleted
Port of departureTroon, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeTrials
ObjectivesERS-1 calibration and validation in the region of the Iceland-Faroes Front.
The overall aim of the cruise was to calibrate and validate data from the sensors on board the European Space Agency ERS-1 satellite against in-situ measurements, to improve the utility of that data for oceanographic studies.
Specific objectives included:
1. the validation of ERS-1 altimeter significant wave height measurements.
2. The calibration and validation of ERS-1 altimeter wind speed measurements.
3. the validation of ERS-1 altimeter sea surface topography measurements.
4. The calibration and validation of ERS-1 scatterometer wind speed and direction measurements.
5. The investigation of the relationship between wind stress at the sea surface and radar backscatter as measured by the scatterometer (including the effect of wave conditions on this relationship).
6. The calibration and validation of ERS-1 Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) sea surface temperature (SST) measurements.
Chief scientistMeric Srokosz (James Rennell Centre for Ocean Circulation)
Cruise reportRRS Charles Darwin CD62A cruise report cd62a.pdf (2.13 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificIceland - Faroes Front, 62deg 18.6'N - 63deg 57.6'N, 3deg 32.4'W - 6deg 18.6'W
Track chartsRRS Charles Darwin CD62A cruise track — trk3698.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: track kilometres = 3200
Description: underway T&S using Seabird thermosalinograph
BathythermographQuantity: number of profiles = 83
Description: XBT drops
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 29
Current metersQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: deployed & recovered
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: track kilometres = 3200
Description: shipborne ADCP
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00455.2W VAESAT buoy, deployed 8 Sep 1991, recovered 22 Sep 1991
Instrumented wave measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00455.8W Directional waverider buoy, deployed 8 Sep, lost 12 Sep
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00618.8W Met. Buoy (sea surface temperature) as above
Other physical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00456.4W Sonic anemometer buoy (sea surface temperature), as above, recovered 17 Sep
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 18
Description: 3 hourly met. obs.
Other meteorological measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00456.4W Sonic anemometer buoy (wind speed, direction, temperature) deployed 16 Sep
Other meteorological measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 1
Description: 00618.8W Met. Buoy (wind speed,direction, temperature) deployed 9 Sep, recovered 20 Sep
Other meteorological measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 23
Description: underway met.
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Current meters62° 18' 36" N  4° 55' 11" W — VAESAT buoy (as above)
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
27  CTD/STD cast
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
Discrete samples 
27  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTemperature of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
142  Expendable BathythermographTemperature of the water column
24  Radiosonde
1312  Shipborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profile