Resources

RRS Discovery D44

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Discovery (74E3)
Cruise identifierD44
Cruise period1971-12-04 — 1971-12-13
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnBarry, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1. To recover two current meter moorings laid by 'Surveyor' in September.
2. To lay a near-bottom mooring in the 2000m depth near the position of mooring 104, with a single current meter in it, for recovery in May 1972.
3. To measure the signal strength at various ranges from a 5 kHz sound source, intended for use in long-range floats for the "Minimodo" experiment.
4. To test an acoustic release system suitable for use with recoverable neutrally buoyant floats.
5. To make STD and water sampling observations in relation to the current measurements from the moorings, and to test new STD sensors and improvements in processing STD data.
6. To measure ship flexure when pitching, by observing deflections of a laser beam running most of the length of the ship.
All the aims were successfully achieved.
Chief scientistJohn C Swallow (National Institute of Oceanography)
Cruise reportRRS Discovery D44 cruise report d44.pdf (0.46 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
Irish Sea and St. George's Channel
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRRS Discovery D44 cruise track — d44track.pdf (0.02 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 10
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 9
Current metersDescription: 221d
Biology and fisheries 
Gear research
Meteorology 
Occasional standard measurements
Other meteorological measurementsDescription: sea and swell