Resources

RRS Challenger CH123A

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH123A
Cruise period1995-11-15 — 1995-11-29
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnArdrossan, United Kingdom
Objectives1. To identify the time and space scales of ocean-shelf momentum transmission and to quantify the contributions to ocean-shelf water exchange by physical processes.
2. To estimate fluxes in water, heat and certain dissolved and suspended constituents across a section of the shelf edge with special emphasis on net organic carbon export from, and nutrient import to, the shelf.
3. To relate sediment properties and fluxes to the physical context.
4. To quantify organic carbon cycling in shelf-edge sediments.
5. To incorporate process understanding into models which will be tested by comparison with observations and provide a basis for estimation of fluxes integrated over time and the length of the shelf edge.
Chief scientistJohn Huthnance (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)
ProjectLOIS - SES
Coordinating bodyNERC
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH123A cruise report ch123a_95.pdf (0.89 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificInner Seas/NE Atlantic, SES area 5627-5643N;00856W-00939W
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH123A cruise track — trk4124.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 14
Description: Surface underway measurements with thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 21
Description: CTD rosette water bottle calibration samples, at least 2 per cast
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 21
Description: CTD with transmissometer and fluorometer
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of deployments = 4
Description: SeaSoar deployments along 1000m,500m,170m depth contours
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of stations = 21
Description: CTD with transmissometer and fluorometer
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: activity duration in days = 14
Description: Surface underway measurements with thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Current metersQuantity: number of stations = 2
Description: 6 cms: 3 depl. & 3 rec. & redepl.
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 14
Description: Shipborne ADCP
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of deployments = 4
Description: SeaSoar deployments along 1000m,500m,170m depth contours
Other dissolved gasesQuantity: number of samples = 300
Description: surface samples for CO determination
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 17
Description: surface samples for chlorophyll determination
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: activity duration in days = 14
Description: Surface underway measurements with thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of deployments = 4
Description: SeaSoar deployments along 1000m,500m,170m depth contours
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 36
Description: sub-surface samples for chlorophyll determination
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 21
Description: CTD with transmissometer and fluorometer
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 41
Description: POC/PON determ. from bottles on 5 CTD casts to maximum depth of 994m
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Subsurface temperature measurements56° 27' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, thermistor chain recovered.
Transparency (eg transmissometer)56° 27' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, transmissometer and fulorometer recovered and redeployed
Transparency (eg transmissometer)56° 28' 0" N  9° 4' 0" W — Site S300, 3 CMs and transmissometer deployed
Current meters56° 28' 0" N  9° 4' 0" W — Site S300, 3 CMs and transmissometer deployed
Current meters56° 27' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, 3 CMs and 1 transmissometer recovered and redeployed
Current profiler (eg ADCP)56° 28' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, pop-up ADCP/bottom pressure recorder recovered and redeployed.
Current profiler (eg ADCP)56° 27' 0" N  9° 7' 59" W — Site S600, experimental ADCP deployed, but adrift by 27 Nov 1995
Current profiler (eg ADCP)56° 27' 0" N  9° 4' 59" W — Site S400, pop-up ADCP recovered
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)56° 28' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, pop-up ADCP/bottom pressure recorder recovered and redeployed.
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)56° 27' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — Site S140, transmissometer and fulorometer recovered and redeployed
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
1  Acoustic doppler current profiler
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Metadata parameters
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Metadata parameters

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4442411995-11-19 17:34:59  — 1996-02-01 09:54:59 56° 26' 54" N  8° 59' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 444241
18  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.
16650731995-11-21 11:15 56° 27' 43" N  9° 1' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665073
16649361995-11-25 12:33 55° 45' 30" N  5° 51' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664936
16649001995-11-18 22:29 56° 17' 19" N  9° 20' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664900
16649241995-11-25 11:30 55° 42' 34" N  5° 51' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664924
16649481995-11-25 16:37 55° 33' 15" N  5° 58' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664948
16649731995-11-26 22:12 56° 25' 5" N  8° 58' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664973
16650121995-11-19 10:46 56° 28' 5" N  8° 58' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665012
16650611995-11-21 09:52 56° 26' 17" N  8° 58' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665061
16650851995-11-21 11:56 56° 27' 14" N  9° 2' 30" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665085
16649121995-11-21 16:15 56° 27' 32" N  8° 57' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664912
16650241995-11-19 14:50 56° 30' 26" N  9° 0' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665024
16650361995-11-19 17:51 56° 27' 7" N  9° 0' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665036
16650001995-11-27 21:42 56° 27' 12" N  8° 57' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665000
16650971995-11-21 12:49 56° 27' 30" N  9° 3' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665097
16649851995-11-27 02:21 56° 31' 3" N  9° 17' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664985
16649611995-11-25 22:34 55° 50' 4" N  5° 47' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664961
16649971995-11-27 13:14 56° 27' 22" N  9° 5' 12" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1664997
16650481995-11-20 07:35 56° 26' 26" N  8° 58' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1665048
1  Bottom pressure sensor tide gauge
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Sea level
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Sea level

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4426641995-11-19 17:30:25  — 1996-02-01 10:15:25 56° 26' 54" N  8° 59' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442664
3  CTD in towed or autonomous underwater vehicle
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Horizontal spatial co-ordinates
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
5075871995-11-18 23:11:05  — 1995-11-19 05:59:50 56° 17' 58" N  9° 21' 55" W — 56° 45' 25" N  9° 1' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 507587
5075991995-11-19 19:20:14  — 1995-11-20 06:29:06 56° 17' 32" N  9° 9' 12" W — 56° 44' 45" N  8° 58' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 507599
5076061995-11-21 19:34:41  — 1995-11-21 23:36:22 56° 29' 20" N  9° 15' 26" W — 56° 34' 54" N  8° 55' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 507606
21  CTD/STD cast
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of 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
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of 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.
8546821995-11-18 22:12 56° 17' 19" N  9° 20' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854682
8546941995-11-19 10:36 56° 28' 5" N  8° 58' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854694
8547371995-11-21 09:44 56° 26' 17" N  8° 58' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854737
8548301995-11-27 01:51 56° 31' 3" N  9° 17' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854830
8547981995-11-25 12:28 55° 45' 30" N  5° 51' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854798
8548661995-11-27 21:38 56° 27' 12" N  8° 57' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854866
8547491995-11-21 11:07 56° 27' 43" N  9° 1' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854749
8547621995-11-21 12:32 56° 27' 29" N  9° 3' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854762
8548911995-11-28 00:55 56° 28' 45" N  9° 8' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854891
8548781995-11-27 23:06 56° 28' 2" N  9° 8' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854878
8548541995-11-27 15:07 56° 26' 10" N  9° 0' 4" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854854
8547251995-11-20 07:29 56° 26' 26" N  8° 58' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854725
8547501995-11-21 11:46 56° 27' 14" N  9° 2' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854750
8548171995-11-25 22:25 55° 50' 4" N  5° 47' 44" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854817
8548291995-11-26 22:02 56° 25' 5" N  8° 58' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854829
8547131995-11-19 17:41 56° 27' 7" N  9° 0' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854713
8547861995-11-25 11:23 55° 42' 34" N  5° 51' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854786
8548051995-11-25 16:30 55° 33' 15" N  5° 58' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854805
8547011995-11-19 14:43 56° 30' 26" N  9° 0' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854701
8547741995-11-21 16:08 56° 27' 32" N  8° 57' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854774
8548421995-11-27 12:58 56° 27' 22" N  9° 5' 12" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 854842
1  Fluorometers
Date and time
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Date and time
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4762311995-11-27 20:01:48  — 1995-12-06 11:02:57 56° 26' 43" N  8° 58' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 476231
3  Paddle wheel current meter
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Moored instrument depth
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4393671995-11-19 17:15  — 1996-01-22 13:15 56° 26' 55" N  8° 57' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 439367
4389051995-11-27 07:45  — 1995-12-01 12:45 56° 27' 43" N  9° 3' 40" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 438905
4361481995-11-19 17:15  — 1996-01-22 13:15 56° 26' 55" N  8° 58' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436148
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.
16550421995-11-18 22:44  — 1995-11-27 21:55 56° 14' 30" N  9° 21' 11" W — 56° 39' 36" N  8° 42' 33" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1655042
1  Transmissometer
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4961521995-11-27 15:54:59  — 1995-12-06 09:56 56° 26' 43" N  8° 58' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 496152
Discrete samples 
21  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTransmittance and attenuance of the water column
Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Density of the water column
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
5  Instrument mooring
47  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplySalinity of the water column
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
394  SeaSoar profile from gridded dataSalinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Density of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
3  SeaSoar tow
1955  Shipborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profile