RRS Discovery D264
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74E3) |
| Cruise identifier | D264 |
| Cruise period | 2002-07-25 — 2002-08-28 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fairlie, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fairlie, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | RRS Discovery cruise 264 was the third of four supported by the NERC Marine Productivity (MarProd) thematic programme. The MarProd cruise series provides the main opportunity for data- and sample-gathering to address the overall programme goal, viz: "to develop coupled modelling and observation systems for the pelagic ecosystem, with emphasis on physical factors affecting zooplankton dynamics". The principal cruise-specific research objectives for Discovery 264 were as follows: 1) Map the physical features of the survey region (Irminger Sea and parts of the Iceland Basin) in terms of water mass distribution, velocity field and mixed layer properties 2) To measure high resolution profiles of inorganic nutrient concentrations 3) Collect water samples for plant pigment and microscopic analyses, to estimate the biomass of different taxonomic/functional groups of microplankton. 4) Determine the 3D abundance of mesozooplankton of interest (primarily the copepod Calanus finmarchicus), and their planktivorous predators (primarily euphausiid spp), obtaining material for further taxonomic, physiological and biochemical studies. The process studies covered: estimation of primary productivity, Calanus egg production and naupliae development, the influence of food quality on calanus egg production, Oithona and Calanus naupliae feeding experiments, Oithona egg production, collection of samples for lipid hormone analysis, collection of samples fo C/N and stable isotope ratios. The broad scope of the dataset compiled by the Marine Productivity series of cruises to the Irminger Sea is intended to facilitate comparisons with historical datasets (eg NORWESTLANT, 1963 and Continuous Plankton Recorder surveys); EU-supported zooplankton programmes (TASC and ICOS); and other national and international studies. |
| Chief scientist | Andrew Brierley (Gatty Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | Marine Productivity |
| Coordinating body | UK-NERC |
| Cruise report |  (6.28 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Specific | Northern North Atlantic, Iceland Basin, Irminger Sea, Reykjanes Ridge |
| Track charts | (0.31 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 22 Description: Ocean Sampler towed multinet system with water sampling system and OPC |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 23 Description: CTD: Sea-Bird 911+ with dual CT sensors, dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, fluorometer, OBS, Niskin bottles. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 23 Description: CTD: Sea-Bird 911+ with dual CT sensors, dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, fluorometer, OBS, Niskin bottles. |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | Description: Ship's underway navigation, sea surface (thermosalinograph, transm, fluor and FRRF) and meterorogical measurements plus 75 and 150 kHz VM-ADCP and wave measurements. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Description: Ship's underway navigation, sea surface (thermosalinograph, transm, fluor and FRRF) and meterorogical measurements plus 75 and 150 kHz VM-ADCP and wave measurements. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of stations = 23 Description: CTD: Sea-Bird 911+ with dual CT sensors, dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, fluorometer, OBS, Niskin bottles. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Optics (eg underwater light levels) | Quantity: number of stations = 23 Description: CTD: Sea-Bird 911+ with dual CT sensors, dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, fluorometer, OBS, Niskin bottles. |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: 300 & 600 kHz ADCP mounted on CTD frame. |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Oxygen | Description: Nutrient and dissolved gas profiles at CTD and ARIES stations, and underway non-toxic supply |
| Oxygen | Quantity: number of stations = 23 Description: CTD: Sea-Bird 911+ with dual CT sensors, dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, fluorometer, OBS, Niskin bottles. |
| Phosphate | Description: Nutrient and dissolved gas profiles at CTD and ARIES stations, and underway non-toxic supply |
| Nitrate | Description: Nutrient and dissolved gas profiles at CTD and ARIES stations, and underway non-toxic supply |
| Silicate | Description: Nutrient and dissolved gas profiles at CTD and ARIES stations, and underway non-toxic supply |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Description: Ship's underway navigation, sea surface (thermosalinograph, transm, fluor and FRRF) and meterorogical measurements plus 75 and 150 kHz VM-ADCP and wave measurements. |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Description: Total and size fractionated chlorophyll concentration from CTD, ARIES, Ocean Sampler stations, and underway non-toxic supply. |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of deployments = 23 Description: Fast Repetition rate Fluorometer (FRRF), short, vertical casts. |
| Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids) | Quantity: number of hauls = 22 Description: Dual Methot net |
| Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids) | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of stations = 22 Description: Ocean Sampler towed multinet system with water sampling system and OPC |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of hauls = 22 Description: Dual Methot net |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of deployments = 7 Description: Continuous Plankton Recorder |
| Acoustic reflection on marine organisms. | Quantity: number of stations = 28 Description: 300 & 600 kHz ADCP mounted on CTD frame. |
| Acoustic reflection on marine organisms. | Quantity: number of deployments = 54 Description: Lowered EK500 scientific echosounder |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of deployments = 26 Description: ARIES towed zooplankton multinet system with CTD, fluorometer, transmissometer, OPC, water bottle sampler for sal and chl calibration samples and nutrients, and zooplankton net systems (discrete and integrated). |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of hauls = 22 Description: Dual Methot net |
| Meteorology | |
| Incident radiation | Description: Ship's underway navigation, sea surface (thermosalinograph, transm, fluor and FRRF) and meterorogical measurements plus 75 and 150 kHz VM-ADCP and wave measurements. |
| Other meteorological measurements | Description: Ship's underway navigation, sea surface (thermosalinograph, transm, fluor and FRRF) and meterorogical measurements plus 75 and 150 kHz VM-ADCP and wave measurements. |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Meteorology | |
| Routine standard measurements | 61° 26' 18" N 40° 0' 0" W — UK Met Office drifting buoy (Argos 21512) with atmospheric pressure and temperature sensors deployed. |
| Routine standard measurements | 57° 27' 41" N 35° 0' 0" W — UK Met Office drifting buoy (Argos 21570) with atmospheric pressure and temperature sensors deployed. |
| Data held at BODC | Get data |
| Discrete samples | |
| 1 1 metre diameter zooplankton ring net | |
| 70 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | Dissolved total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column Phytoplankton taxonomic biomass in water bodies Phytoplankton generic biomass in water bodies Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton growth rates Density of the water column Zooplankton chemical composition Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Biological detritus in the water column suspended particulate material Microzooplankton taxonomy-related biomass expressed as carbon per unit volume of the water column Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies Primary production in the water column Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Zooplankton egg hatch proportion Zooplankton non taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Salinity of the water column Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column Temperature of the water column Carotenoid and flavenoid pigment concentrations in water bodies Zooplankton reproduction rate parameters Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Phytoplankton generic abundance in water bodies Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Experiment state variables Microzooplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies |
| 71 Continuous Plankton Recorder tow segment | |
| 22 Dual Methot net | Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters Zooplankton and zoobenthos development stage parameters Stable isotopes in biota Metadata parameters Concentration of other substances in biota |
| 21 Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer Dark Chamber | Variable fluorescence parameters |
| 21 Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer Light Chamber | Variable fluorescence parameters |
| 6 Lowered EK-500 acoustic profiler | |
| 26 MarLab Aberdeen ARIES net and environmental sampling system | Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters Fish abundance in water bodies Zooplankton growth rates Density of the water column Zooplankton chemical composition Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Zooplankton and zoobenthos development stage parameters Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Salinity of the water column Stomach and gut contents Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Temperature of the water column Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Reference numbers Date and time |
| 22 Marine Lab Aberdeen Ocean Sampler net | Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Fish abundance in water bodies Zooplankton and zoobenthos development stage parameters Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Zooplankton non taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column |
| 428 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | Zooplankton chemical composition Metadata parameters Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Salinity of the water column Zooplankton reproduction rate parameters Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Experiment state variables |
| 3 Twin WP-2 net mounted on a frame | Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters Metadata parameters Zooplankton feeding Zooplankton reproduction rate parameters |
| 26 Unspecified zooplankton net or nets | Zooplankton non taxonomy-related biomass expressed as protein per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters Zooplankton growth rates Zooplankton chemical composition Metadata parameters Zooplankton feeding Zooplankton reproduction rate parameters |
| 7 WP-2 zooplankton net | Zooplankton non taxonomy-related biomass expressed as protein per unit volume of the water column Zooplankton growth rates Zooplankton chemical composition |
