Resources

RRS Challenger CH125A

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH125A
Cruise period1996-01-31 — 1996-02-12
StatusCompleted
Port of departureArdrossan, United Kingdom
Port of returnArdrossan, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesRecovery and redeployment of the mooring array.
After these mooring deployment, searches and attempted recoveries, including dragging, will be made for 'lost' moorings. The highest priorities are:
1) The BPRs deployed at S1500 on Charles Darwin 91 and at N1500 on Charles Darwin 93.
2) Two S200 moorings (deployed on Charles Darwin 93 and Challenger 121A) located acoustically at 56 15'N 9 10.08'W, with ranges of 1.9 and 2.5km.
3) The S140 mooring deployed on Charles Darwin 93 located acoustically at the N140 site.
Seabed photographs will be taken near the STABLE S200 site with a bed-hopping camera.
Chief scientistM John Howarth (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)
ProjectLOIS - SES
Coordinating bodyNERC/POL
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH125A cruise report ch125a_96.pdf (1.23 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH125A cruise track — trk4127.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: underway thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 43
Description: at least 2 water bottles on each CTD cast
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 43
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of profiles = 43
Description: transmissometer on CTD
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: underway thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Current metersQuantity: number of stations = 9
Description: 15 cms deployed
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: shipborne ADCP
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: underway thermosalinograph, fluorometer and transmissometer
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of profiles = 43
Description: fluorometer on CTD
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 121
Description: 83 sub-surface and 38 surface samples for chlorophyll determination
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of samples = 52
Description: POC determinations from samples from 5 CTD casts to a minimum depth of 1508m
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of image series = 14
Description: 150 to 300 photographs per film at 15 second intervals for marine snow
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Transparency (eg transmissometer)56° 28' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — S140, surface mooring with transmissometer and fluorometer (B02) deployed
Current meters56° 28' 0" N  9° 3' 0" W — S200, STABLE sea bed frame (D09, D72) deployed in 204m water
Current meters56° 28' 0" N  9° 4' 0" W — S300, 3 CMs, bottom CM fitted with transmissometer (H16) depl. in 298m water
Current meters56° 28' 0" N  9° 10' 0" W — S700, 3 CMs, lowest plus transmissometer (H16), 3 thermistor chains (H72)
Current meters56° 43' 59" N  9° 25' 0" W — N1500, 2 sediment traps (B73), CM/transmissometer (H16) rec./redepl.
Current meters56° 37' 59" N  9° 1' 0" W — N300, sub-surface mooring, 3 CMs deployed in 303m water
Current meters56° 37' 0" N  9° 1' 59" W — CC2, CM, transmissometer (H16), thermistor chain (H72) depl. in 335m water
Current meters56° 43' 0" N  8° 58' 59" W — CC3, CM, transmissometer (H16), thermistor chain (H72) depl. in 234m water
Current meters56° 28' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — S140, 2 CMs and 1 transmissometer (H16) deployed in 146m water
Current meters56° 37' 0" N  9° 1' 0" W — CC1, CM, transmissometer (H16), thermistor chain (H72) depl. in 228m water
Current profiler (eg ADCP)56° 28' 0" N  8° 58' 0" W — S140, pop-up ADCP and bottom pressure recorder (D09) recovered/redeployed
Current profiler (eg ADCP)56° 27' 0" N  9° 4' 59" W — S400, pop-up ADCP deployed in 400m water
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)56° 36' 0" N  8° 55' 59" W — N140, bottom pressure recorder recovered/redeployed in 137m water
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
2  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.
4897701996-02-05 20:15  — 1996-02-22 12:35 56° 27' 15" N  9° 4' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 489770
4897691996-02-01 11:55  — 1996-04-19 17:54:59 56° 27' 30" N  8° 57' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 489769
42  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.
16792281996-02-11 01:11 56° 35' 3" N  9° 10' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679228
16789561996-02-03 20:45 56° 36' 36" N  9° 1' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678956
16790201996-02-04 03:30 56° 39' 47" N  9° 8' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679020
16790321996-02-04 05:16 56° 40' 2" N  9° 12' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679032
16788761996-02-02 23:06 56° 27' 50" N  9° 39' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678876
16789191996-02-03 05:09 56° 27' 11" N  9° 24' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678919
16791971996-02-10 22:13 56° 33' 29" N  8° 59' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679197
16792041996-02-10 22:56 56° 33' 50" N  9° 1' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679204
16788881996-02-03 02:03 56° 28' 3" N  9° 35' 43" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678888
16789681996-02-03 21:45 56° 37' 43" N  9° 0' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678968
16791121996-02-07 03:54 56° 30' 59" N  9° 18' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679112
16791241996-02-07 05:30 56° 31' 5" N  9° 10' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679124
16791481996-02-07 07:20 56° 30' 10" N  9° 3' 26" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679148
16792161996-02-11 00:06 56° 34' 31" N  9° 7' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679216
16792651996-02-01 19:31 56° 27' 36" N  8° 59' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679265
16790811996-02-06 22:09 56° 42' 27" N  9° 24' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679081
16791001996-02-07 01:29 56° 41' 3" N  9° 14' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679100
16791851996-02-10 21:26 56° 32' 57" N  8° 55' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679185
16788401996-02-01 07:36 56° 27' 32" N  9° 2' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678840
16788641996-02-02 05:18 56° 27' 11" N  9° 17' 57" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678864
16789201996-02-03 18:33 56° 36' 9" N  8° 56' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678920
16791361996-02-07 06:33 56° 30' 45" N  9° 6' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679136
16792531996-02-11 04:46 56° 37' 35" N  9° 28' 29" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679253
16789321996-02-03 19:19 56° 37' 32" N  8° 58' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678932
16789931996-02-03 23:49 56° 38' 23" N  9° 3' 30" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678993
16790071996-02-04 00:49 56° 38' 31" N  9° 4' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679007
16790561996-02-05 21:56 56° 30' 12" N  8° 59' 17" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679056
16790681996-02-05 22:36 56° 30' 21" N  9° 2' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679068
16791731996-02-10 19:46 56° 42' 48" N  8° 59' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679173
16789071996-02-03 03:35 56° 28' 0" N  9° 30' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678907
16790931996-02-06 23:58 56° 41' 43" N  9° 19' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679093
16791611996-02-01 18:46 56° 27' 37" N  8° 57' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679161
16792411996-02-11 02:38 56° 36' 7" N  9° 18' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679241
16792771996-02-01 20:24 56° 28' 6" N  9° 2' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679277
16788521996-02-02 03:36 56° 28' 16" N  9° 13' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678852
16789441996-02-03 20:01 56° 36' 38" N  9° 0' 29" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678944
16789811996-02-03 22:44 56° 37' 30" N  9° 2' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1678981
16790191996-02-04 02:00 56° 38' 55" N  9° 6' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679019
16790441996-02-05 21:11 56° 30' 3" N  8° 55' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679044
16792891996-02-01 21:32 56° 28' 29" N  9° 3' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679289
16793081996-02-02 00:10 56° 28' 20" N  9° 6' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679308
16792901996-02-01 22:49 56° 27' 57" N  9° 4' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1679290
2  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.
4427201996-02-02 16:00:30  — 1996-04-23 07:15:30 56° 36' 20" N  8° 56' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442720
4427191996-02-01 11:50:21  — 1996-04-19 18:10:21 56° 27' 30" N  8° 57' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442719
47  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.
8561911996-02-10 22:49 56° 33' 50" N  9° 1' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856191
8561051996-02-05 21:50 56° 30' 12" N  8° 59' 17" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856105
8561291996-02-06 23:31 56° 41' 43" N  9° 19' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856129
8562341996-02-11 04:15 56° 37' 35" N  9° 28' 29" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856234
8563381996-02-03 00:47 56° 28' 14" N  9° 35' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856338
8563871996-02-07 01:03 56° 41' 3" N  9° 14' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856387
8561541996-02-10 19:36 56° 42' 48" N  8° 59' 26" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856154
8560491996-02-03 17:20 56° 36' 13" N  8° 55' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856049
8560741996-02-03 22:31 56° 37' 30" N  9° 2' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856074
8560861996-02-04 01:38 56° 38' 55" N  9° 6' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856086
8562221996-02-11 02:14 56° 36' 7" N  9° 18' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856222
8562951996-02-01 07:22 56° 27' 32" N  9° 2' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856295
8560981996-02-04 03:08 56° 39' 47" N  9° 8' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856098
8561661996-02-10 21:21 56° 32' 57" N  8° 55' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856166
8562581996-02-04 00:34 56° 38' 31" N  9° 4' 46" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856258
8559501996-02-01 19:23 56° 27' 36" N  8° 59' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855950
8560621996-02-03 21:33 56° 37' 43" N  9° 0' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856062
8561781996-02-10 22:09 56° 33' 29" N  8° 59' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856178
8563511996-02-03 04:39 56° 27' 11" N  9° 24' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856351
8563631996-02-03 19:50 56° 36' 38" N  9° 0' 29" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856363
8564061996-02-03 20:37 56° 36' 36" N  9° 1' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856406
8560131996-02-02 22:15 56° 27' 50" N  9° 39' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856013
8560251996-02-03 01:31 56° 28' 3" N  9° 35' 43" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856025
8560501996-02-03 19:13 56° 37' 32" N  8° 58' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856050
8561301996-02-07 05:11 56° 31' 5" N  9° 10' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856130
8561421996-02-07 06:22 56° 30' 45" N  9° 6' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856142
8563141996-02-01 21:17 56° 28' 29" N  9° 3' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856314
8563261996-02-02 01:09 56° 28' 33" N  9° 9' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856326
8563751996-02-03 23:30 56° 38' 24" N  9° 3' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856375
8563991996-02-07 07:12 56° 30' 10" N  9° 3' 26" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856399
8562091996-02-10 23:52 56° 34' 31" N  9° 7' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856209
8562101996-02-11 00:55 56° 35' 3" N  9° 10' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856210
8563021996-02-01 18:38 56° 27' 37" N  8° 57' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856302
8564181996-02-07 03:28 56° 30' 58" N  9° 18' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856418
8560371996-02-03 03:06 56° 28' 0" N  9° 30' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856037
8561171996-02-05 22:34 56° 30' 20" N  9° 2' 27" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856117
8562461996-02-03 18:23 56° 36' 9" N  8° 56' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856246
8562711996-02-04 04:48 56° 40' 2" N  9° 12' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856271
8562831996-02-06 21:27 56° 42' 28" N  9° 24' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856283
8564311996-02-05 21:05 56° 30' 3" N  8° 55' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856431
8559371996-02-01 11:11 56° 27' 21" N  8° 58' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855937
8559491996-02-01 18:01 56° 27' 51" N  8° 57' 30" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855949
8559861996-02-01 23:55 56° 28' 20" N  9° 6' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855986
8559981996-02-02 03:12 56° 28' 16" N  9° 13' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855998
8560011996-02-02 04:45 56° 27' 11" N  9° 17' 57" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 856001
8559621996-02-01 20:12 56° 28' 6" N  9° 2' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855962
8559741996-02-01 22:32 56° 27' 57" N  9° 4' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 855974
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.
4761381996-02-01 16:02:53  — 1996-04-15 17:02:56 56° 27' 31" N  8° 58' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 476138
7  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.
4393921996-02-06 21:30:14  — 1996-04-21 17:30:14 56° 43' 36" N  9° 24' 46" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 439392
4362651996-02-03 15:30:04  — 1996-02-18 19:30:04 56° 37' 27" N  9° 1' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436265
4362281996-02-01 09:45  — 1996-04-17 09:45 56° 27' 36" N  8° 57' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436228
4393801996-02-01 09:45  — 1996-04-17 10:15 56° 27' 36" N  8° 57' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 439380
4362531996-02-03 15:30:04  — 1996-02-18 19:30:04 56° 37' 27" N  9° 1' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436253
4362041996-02-05 18:15:04  — 1996-04-17 16:45:04 56° 27' 53" N  9° 9' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436204
4362771996-02-05 17:45:05  — 1996-04-17 16:45:05 56° 27' 53" N  9° 9' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 436277
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.
16513301996-02-01 07:01  — 1996-02-11 04:58 55° 36' 3" N  9° 39' 18" W — 56° 43' 11" N  5° 49' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1651330
1  Savonius rotor current meter
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Platform or instrument orientation
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Sea level

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4444251996-02-01 08:17  — 1996-02-21 08:46 56° 27' 37" N  9° 2' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 444425
3  Thermistor chain
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4424311996-02-05 18:00:04  — 1996-04-17 17:30:03 56° 27' 53" N  9° 9' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442431
4424061996-02-05 18:00:04  — 1996-04-17 17:30:03 56° 27' 53" N  9° 9' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442406
4424431996-02-05 18:00  — 1996-04-17 17:30 56° 27' 53" N  9° 9' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 442443
1  Transmissometer
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time
Transmittance and attenuance of the water column
Date and time

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4919091996-02-01 13:17  — 1996-03-16 18:46 56° 27' 31" N  8° 58' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 491909
1  Water temperature and/or salinity monitor
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Date and time
Temperature of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
4772341996-02-03 09:20  — 1996-05-17 13:00 56° 36' 30" N  9° 0' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 477234
Discrete samples 
47  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTransmittance and attenuance of the water column
Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column
Temperature of the water column
Salinity 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
13  Instrument mooringOther physical and chemical properties of suspended particulate material
Concentration of silicon species in suspended particulate material
Sedimentation flux of carbon, nitrogen or organic matter in the water column
Carbon concentrations in suspended particulate material
Nitrogen concentrations in suspended particulate material
Sedimentation flux quantification in the water column
Sedimentation flux of non-metallic inorganic species in the water column
48  Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supplySalinity of the water column
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
3243  Shipborne Acoustic Doppler Current Profile