Resources

RRS Challenger CH117B

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH117B
Cruise period1995-01-30 — 1995-02-13
StatusCompleted
Port of departureGrimsby, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1. To quantify the rates and processes of sediment-water exchange of nutrients, trace metals and oxygen in the sediments of the Humber/Wash and Tyne regions.
2. To quantify pore water concentration gradients of nutrients and trace metals, the distributions of naturally occurring radionuclides, and the rates of dentrification/nitrification and sulphate reduction within the surficial zone of these sediments.
3. To determine the population density of bioturbating macrofauna within these sediments.
4. To map the distribution of dissolved nutrients, salinity, temperature, turbidity and fluorescence in the LOIS RACS (C) region.
5. To deploy and recover one experiment mooring rig to measure currents, and recover six previously deployed instrument mooring rigs.
6. To characterise organic micropollutant geochemistry in the waters, suspended particulate and sediments of the Humber/Wash region.
Chief scientistPeter G Watson (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
ProjectLOIS - RACS
Coordinating bodyNERC, Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH117B cruise report ch117b_95.pdf (0.84 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
North Sea
Bristol Channel
SpecificBristol Channel, English Channel and North Sea, coastal strip between the Great Yarmouth and Berwick upon Tweed
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH117B cruise track — trk4008.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: Neil Brown MK IIIB CTD
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: 25cm transmissometer attached to CTD
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: up and downwelling 2pi PAR padiance meters attached to CTD
Current metersQuantity: number of recoveries = 6
Description: 5 recovered & 1 deployed & recovered
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: shipborne ADCP
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: dissolved oxygen sensor attached to CTD
OxygenQuantity: number of cores = 21
Description: oxygen consumption in sediments
OxygenQuantity: number of cores = 8
Description: Eh, oxygen profiles and resistivity in sediments
PhosphateQuantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: surface underway measurements
PhosphateQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
NitrateQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
NitrateQuantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: surface underway measurements
NitriteQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
NitriteQuantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: surface underway measurements
AmmoniaQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
SilicateQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
SilicateQuantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: surface underway measurements
RadioactivityQuantity: number of cores = 6
Description: surface scrapes and sectional cores for radioisotopes in sediments
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of cores = 14
Description: Eh, porosity, particle size distribution of sediment cores
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of cores = 60
Description: nitrification/denitrification studies on sediment cores
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of cores = 6
Description: sulphate reduction studies in sediments
Other chemical oceanographic measurementsQuantity: number of cores = 8
Description: Eh, oxygen profiles and resistivity in sediments
Contamination 
Suspended matterQuantity: number of samples = 27
Description: gravimetric SPM/extracted chl. determ. from rosette/non-toxic
Suspended matterQuantity: number of samples = 21
Description: SPM by weight,POC,susp. particulate, dissolved micro-pollutant analysis.
Trace metalsQuantity: number of experiments = 14
Description: exchanges/metals in sediment-water interface/pore water
Trace metalsQuantity: number of samples = 27
Description: gravimetric SPM/extracted chl. determ. from rosette/non-toxic
Other dissolved substancesQuantity: number of samples = 21
Description: SPM by weight,POC,susp. Particulate, dissolved micro-pollutant analysis.
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of profiles = 19
Description: fluorometer attached to CTD
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: fluorescence
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 21
Description: SPM by weight,POC,susp. particulate, dissolved micro-pollutant analysis.
Benthic bacteria/micro-organismsQuantity: number of cores = 28
Meteorology 
Incident radiationQuantity: track kilometres = 1611.24
Description: incident PAR, solar radiation
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of cores = 14
Description: Eh, porosity, particle size distribution of sediment cores
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Transparency (eg transmissometer)53° 43' 0" N  0° 4' 0" E — Station S1 recovered 7 Feb 95 from Janet M
Transparency (eg transmissometer)53° 46' 59" N  0° 13' 59" E — Station S3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Transparency (eg transmissometer)53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Transparency (eg transmissometer)53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
Transparency (eg transmissometer)53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Transparency (eg transmissometer) Station N1; recovered 7 Feb 95 from fishing vessel Janet M
Current meters53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2 deployed 8 Feb 95, recovered 9 Feb 95
Current meters53° 43' 0" N  0° 4' 0" E — Station S1 recovered 7 Feb 95 from Janet M
Current meters53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current meters53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current meters53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Current meters53° 46' 59" N  0° 13' 59" E — Station S3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current profiler (eg ADCP) Station N1; recovered 7 Feb 95 from fishing vessel Janet M
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 43' 0" N  0° 4' 0" E — Station S1 recovered 7 Feb 95 from Janet M
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 46' 59" N  0° 13' 59" E — Station S3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 43' 0" N  0° 4' 0" E — Station S1 recovered 7 Feb 95 from Janet M
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2 deployed 8 Feb 95, recovered 9 Feb 95
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder) Station N1; recovered 7 Feb 95 from fishing vessel Janet M
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 46' 59" N  0° 13' 59" E — Station S3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
Instrumented wave measurements Station N1; recovered 7 Feb 95 from fishing vessel Janet M
Instrumented wave measurements53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2 deployed 8 Feb 95, recovered 9 Feb 95
Instrumented wave measurements53° 46' 59" N  0° 13' 59" E — Station S3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Instrumented wave measurements53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Instrumented wave measurements53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Other physical oceanographic measurements53° 43' 0" N  0° 4' 0" E — Station S1 recovered 7 Feb 95 from Janet M
Other physical oceanographic measurements53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
Other physical oceanographic measurements53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Other physical oceanographic measurements Station N1; recovered 7 Feb 95 from fishing vessel Janet M
Chemical oceanography 
pH53° 43' 59" N  0° 7' 0" E — Station S2, recovered 7 Feb 95
pH53° 47' 59" N  0° 3' 0" E — Station N2, recovered 9 Feb 95
Meteorology 
Routine standard measurements53° 51' 0" N  0° 10' 0" E — Station N3, recovered 7 Feb 95
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
12  Bottle station
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Quality control flags
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Vertical spatial coordinates
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Quality control flags
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
16803101995-02-05 20:11 53° 28' 49" N  1° 0' 18" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680310
16804021995-02-04 17:31 52° 43' 19" N  1° 48' 48" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680402
16802911995-02-04 19:00 52° 53' 56" N  1° 30' 53" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680291
16803711995-02-09 22:41 53° 0' 8" N  1° 3' 48" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680371
16803951995-01-31 22:31 55° 20' 39" N  1° 3' 15" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680395
16803581995-02-06 23:33 53° 19' 13" N  0° 25' 3" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680358
16803091995-02-04 21:40 53° 17' 25" N  1° 21' 10" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680309
16803221995-02-05 23:58 53° 53' 33" N  0° 41' 20" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680322
16803341995-02-06 01:13 54° 2' 0" N  0° 31' 2" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680334
16803461995-02-06 22:24 53° 28' 58" N  0° 24' 4" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680346
16802781995-01-31 15:48 55° 4' 37" N  1° 2' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680278
16803831995-01-31 19:01 55° 12' 26" N  1° 1' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1680383
19  CTD/STD cast
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
8382641995-02-05 20:09 53° 28' 49" N  1° 0' 17" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838264
8380921995-01-31 18:56 55° 12' 27" N  1° 1' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838092
8381111995-01-31 22:27 55° 20' 39" N  1° 3' 15" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838111
8382031995-02-06 23:30 53° 19' 13" N  0° 25' 3" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838203
8382521995-02-09 22:33 53° 0' 8" N  1° 3' 48" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838252
8382151995-02-01 20:15 55° 9' 8" N  1° 17' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838215
8382271995-02-04 17:28 52° 43' 19" N  1° 48' 48" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838227
8380801995-01-31 15:42 55° 4' 37" N  1° 2' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838080
8381471995-02-03 16:56 53° 4' 14" N  1° 0' 13" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838147
8381721995-02-04 21:37 53° 17' 25" N  1° 21' 10" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838172
8381601995-02-04 18:57 52° 53' 56" N  1° 30' 53" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838160
8382761995-02-05 23:52 53° 53' 33" N  0° 41' 20" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838276
8381351995-02-02 17:27 55° 8' 57" N  1° 5' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838135
8381591995-02-04 13:05 52° 41' 34" N  2° 18' 7" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838159
8381841995-02-06 01:07 54° 2' 0" N  0° 31' 2" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838184
8382401995-02-06 15:40 53° 32' 43" N  0° 6' 8" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838240
8381231995-02-01 08:22 55° 8' 59" N  1° 24' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838123
8381961995-02-06 22:22 53° 28' 58" N  0° 24' 4" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838196
8382391995-02-05 17:36 53° 32' 41" N  0° 42' 56" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838239
1  Meteorological data logger
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Solar Radiation
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the atmosphere
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Solar Radiation

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
9523021995-01-30 17:43  — 1995-02-12 13:42 49° 54' 55" N  5° 48' 25" W — 55° 20' 40" N  2° 20' 4" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 952302
1  Pumped water sample
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
16520811995-01-31 17:07  — 1995-02-05 18:51 52° 59' 59" N  1° 27' 11" W — 55° 12' 41" N  1° 20' 52" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1652081
1  Ship's non-toxic supply
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column
Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
9523141995-01-30 17:43  — 1995-02-12 13:42 49° 54' 55" N  5° 48' 25" W — 55° 20' 40" N  2° 20' 4" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 952314
1  Single-beam echosounder
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Bathymetry and Elevation
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Bathymetry and Elevation

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
9522951995-01-30 17:43  — 1995-02-12 13:42 49° 54' 55" N  5° 48' 25" W — 55° 20' 40" N  2° 20' 4" E  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 952295
Discrete samples 
52  Box coreZoobenthos taxonomic abundance
Other fluxes between the bed and the water column
Redox potential in sediment
Nutrient concentrations in sediment pore waters
Nutrient fluxes between the bed and the water column
Sediment water content, porosity and surface area
Metal fluxes between the bed and the water column
Metadata parameters
Carbon concentrations in sediment
Sediment grain size parameters
Metal concentrations in sediment pore waters
Nitrogen concentrations in sediment
19  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTransmittance and attenuance of the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Carbon concentrations in suspended particulate material
Nitrogen concentrations in suspended particulate material
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
69  Day grab
5  MulticorerOther fluxes between the bed and the water column
30  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplySalinity of the water column
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Carbon concentrations in suspended particulate material
Nitrogen concentrations in suspended particulate material
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
21  Water bottle hydrocastConcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water column
Pesticide concentrations in water bodies