RRS Frederick Russell FR16/83
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Frederick Russell (74GG) |
| Cruise identifier | FR16/83 |
| Cruise period | 1983-09-20 — 1983-09-30 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Plymouth, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Plymouth, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | (a) To deploy a recording of current meter mooring in the vicinity of Melville Knoll (mooring Mk1) for long term current measurements to study the vertical structure of tidal currents.
(b) To deploy two Bristol University current meter moorings in the vicinity of Melville Knoll (moorings CM1 and CM2). (c) To deploy recording current meter moorings in the vicinity of La Chapelle Bank (moorings LCB1-4) for long term current measurements to study the interaction between internal waves and tidal currents at the shelf-break. Information was also required to study the relation between sediment transport directions and tidal flows at the shelf-edge. (d) To deploy a thermistor chain mooring, for long term measurements, in the vicinity of La Chapelle Bank (mooring TC1) to study temperature fluctuations associated with internal waves. (e) To carry out salinity and temperature measurements at midshelf edge locations using CTD, XBT and thermo-salinograph equipment. This work included measurements in Black Mud Canyon. (f) To carry out underwater photography and sediment sampling at mid-shelf and shelf-edge locations (including gravity coring in Black Mud Canyon). (g) To deploy a Bristol University frame mounted near-bottom current meter and sediment trap at a location of La Chapelle Bank. (h) To carry out echosounding and sidescan sonar surveys at various shelf and shelf-edge locations and in the vicinity of all moorings, to determine the size, extent and asymmetry of bedforms. (i) To investigate internal wave structure at the shelf-break using acoustic techniques. |
| Chief scientist | Anthony D Heathershaw (Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Taunton) |
| Cruise report |  (0.37 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | English Channel Celtic Sea |
| Specific | S.W. Approaches |
| Track charts | (0.04 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of measurements = 1 Description: A 'drift' CTD observation took place across the shelf-break. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of deployments = 1 Description: CTD observations started but abandoned due to engine difficulties. |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | Quantity: number of surveys = 1 Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph took place in the La Chapelle Bank. |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | Quantity: number of surveys = 1 Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph surveys took place on passage to Plymouth. |
| Current meters | Quantity: number of deployments = 2 Description: Current meters laid at CM2 and CM1 moorings. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Sediment traps | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon. |
| Gear research | Quantity: activity duration in hours = 4 Description: Wire tests on releases took place at Melville Knoll. |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Bottom photography | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon. |
| Single-beam echosounding | Quantity: number of surveys = 1 Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph took place in the La Chapelle Bank. |
| Single-beam echosounding | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon. |
| Single-beam echosounding | Quantity: number of surveys = 1 Description: Echosounding and thermosalinograph surveys took place on passage to Plymouth. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | Quantity: number of stations = 4 Description: CTD observations, XBT observations, camera work, echosounding and sidesacn sonar and sediment sampling in Black Mud Canyon. |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | 47° 34' 24" N 7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1. |
| CTD stations | 47° 39' 32" N 7° 11' 44" W — CTD observations took place at TC1. |
| CTD stations | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid. |
| Current meters | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB2. |
| Current meters | 47° 39' 32" N 7° 11' 44" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at TC1. |
| Current meters | 47° 34' 24" N 7° 16' 43" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB1. |
| Current meters | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid. |
| Current meters | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB4. |
| Current meters | 47° 42' 3" N 7° 17' 7" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB3. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Sediment traps | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — Sediment sampling took place at MK1. |
| Sediment traps | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB2. |
| Sediment traps | 47° 34' 24" N 7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1. |
| Sediment traps | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB4. |
| Gear research | 47° 39' 32" N 7° 11' 44" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at TC1. |
| Gear research | 47° 42' 3" N 7° 17' 7" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB3. |
| Gear research | 47° 34' 24" N 7° 16' 43" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB1. |
| Gear research | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB2. |
| Gear research | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Wire testing and current meter moorings deployed at LCB4. |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Bottom photography | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — Camera work took place at MK1. |
| Bottom photography | 47° 34' 24" N 7° 16' 43" W — Camera work, CTD observations and sediment sampling took place at LCB1. |
| Bottom photography | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB2. |
| Bottom photography | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Camera work and sediment sampling took place at LCB4. |
| Bottom photography | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Camera work took place at LCB4. |
| Single-beam echosounding | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB4. |
| Single-beam echosounding | 47° 42' 3" N 7° 17' 7" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB3. |
| Single-beam echosounding | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB2. |
| Single-beam echosounding | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | 49° 14' 13" N 8° 29' 40" W — A CTD cast, echosounding and sidescan sonar took place at station MK1. A current mooring was also laid. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | 47° 35' 50" N 7° 2' 30" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB4. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | 47° 40' 23" N 7° 13' 25" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB2. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | 47° 42' 3" N 7° 17' 7" W — Echosounding and sidescan sonar work took place at LCB3. |
