Resources

FS Poseidon PO240

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FS Poseidon (06PO)
Cruise identifierPO240
Cruise period1998-06-19 — 1998-07-10
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnSouthampton, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe cruise was a follow-up to the original "FLAME" and "MARVEL" cruises in 1997, which carried out some preliminary investigations of hydrothermal activity at the "RAINBOW" vent-site, 36 degrees N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The objectives of the cruise were threefold:
1. To recover a series of 11 long-term (up to 12 month) current meter + or - sediment trap moorings.
2. To continue a study of the physical and chemical dispersion of the RAINBOW hydrothermal plume using CTD-nephelometer stations coupled with shipboard and shore-based analyses for TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc.
3. To raise sediment cores from different locations beneath the plume, as targeted from TOBI and BRIDGET data.
Chief scientistChristopher R German (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
ProjectFLAME
Coordinating body1) NERC, UK; 2) MAST-III, EC
Cruise reportFS Poseidon PO240 cruise report poseidon240_98.pdf (1.38 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Atlantic Ocean
SpecificMid-Atlantic Ridge
Track chartsFS Poseidon PO240 cruise track — trk4343.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 36
Description: Vertical CTD hydrocasts with optical sensors; sampling of hydrothermal plumes for salinity, TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc
CTD stationsQuantity: number of profiles = 36
Description: Vertical CTD hydrocasts with optical sensors; sampling of hydrothermal plumes for salinity, TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of profiles = 36
Description: Vertical CTD hydrocasts with optical sensors; sampling of hydrothermal plumes for salinity, TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc
Chemical oceanography 
Other dissolved gasesQuantity: number of profiles = 36
Description: Vertical CTD hydrocasts with optical sensors; sampling of hydrothermal plumes for salinity, TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc
Trace elementsQuantity: number of profiles = 36
Description: Vertical CTD hydrocasts with optical sensors; sampling of hydrothermal plumes for salinity, TDMn, CH4 and 3Hc
Geology and geophysics 
Core - soft bottomQuantity: number of cores = 4
Description: Box cores taken for time-series investigation of hydrothermal plume fall-out and accumulation of rift-valley floor sediments
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 35" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 16' 33" N  33° 54' 8" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 42" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 11' 49" N  33° 47' 58" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 16' 15" N  33° 52' 58" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 13' 35" N  33° 50' 40" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 13' 53" N  33° 54' 11" W — Single sediment trap mooring and 1 RCM
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 25' 24" N  33° 36' 40" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 17' 11" N  33° 53' 57" W — With 4 RCMs - not recovered
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 17' 17" N  33° 51' 5" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Transparency (eg transmissometer)36° 14' 39" N  33° 54' 1" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 35" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs
Current meters36° 11' 49" N  33° 47' 58" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 25' 24" N  33° 36' 40" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 17' 17" N  33° 51' 5" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 16' 33" N  33° 54' 8" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 13' 35" N  33° 50' 40" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 16' 15" N  33° 52' 58" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 17' 11" N  33° 53' 57" W — With 4 RCMs - not recovered
Current meters36° 14' 39" N  33° 54' 1" W — All moorings had 3 current meters plus an acoustic release 100m off-bottom and buoyancy
Current meters36° 13' 53" N  33° 54' 11" W — Single sediment trap mooring and 1 RCM
Current meters36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 42" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs
Biology and fisheries 
Sediment traps36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 35" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs
Sediment traps36° 13' 53" N  33° 54' 11" W — Single sediment trap mooring and 1 RCM
Sediment traps36° 14' 11" N  33° 53' 42" W — 2 sediment trap moorings and 2 RCMs