RV Corystes COR10/95

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info.

Ship name (ship code)

RV Corystes (74RY)

Cruise identifier

COR10/95

Cruise period

1995-09-25 — 1995-10-17

Status

Completed

Port of departure

Lowestoft, United Kingdom

Port of return

Lowestoft, United Kingdom

Objectives

The work is directed at a better understanding of the dynamics of the North Channel which control the flushing characteristics of the Irish Sea. Net outflow from the Irish Sea is northward but there are apparently long periods of inflow on the western side of the channel. It is not known to what extent outflowing water recirculates and extends southward along the Irish coast or what importance inflows of Atlantic water have on flushing characteristics of the region. Variability in the flow regime and factors governing it are poorly understood. The main sampling aims of the cruise were:
1. To deploy and recover mooring arrays in the North Channel and western Irish Sea.
2. Deploy and retrieve free floating ARGOS buoys in the North Channel and western Irish Sea to determine the Lagrangian circulation.
3. Undertake associated physical and biological surveys of the region in support of 1) and 2).
4. Continue inter-comparisons of the Valeport BFM308 and Aanderaa RCM-7 current meters.
5. Undertake SCANFISH trials.
6. Measure near bed velocities in the vicinity of a munitions dumping site in the North Channel.
7. If possible, recover the Minipod at the sand extraction site Area 107 in the outer Wash. Failing this, service the guard buoy marking the position of the minipod.
8. Test for acoustic interference with the Tritech alimeter on the CTD rosette.

Chief scientist

Juan Brown (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Lowestoft Fisheries Laboratory)

Cruise report

(0.25 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

North Sea
Irish Sea and St. George's Channel

Specific

Irish Sea, North Channel, Malin Shelf and North Sea

Track charts

Measurements

Physical oceanography

Surface measurements underway (T,S)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: continuous T & S

CTD stations

Quantity: number of stations = 5
Description: also 260 miles undulating CTD

Current meters

Quantity: number of stations = 3
Description: 5 current meters recovered

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 20
Description: continuous ADCP

Surface drifters/drifting buoys

Quantity: number of deployments = 9
Description: satellite tracked drifting buoys

Chemical oceanography

Phosphate