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RRS Charles Darwin CD150
Cruise summary report
Cruise Info. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ship name (ship code) | RRS Charles Darwin (74AB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cruise identifier | CD150 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cruise period | 2003-08-22 — 2003-09-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Completed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Port of departure | Muscat, Oman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Port of return | Muscat, Oman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purpose | Research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Objectives | RRS Charles Darwin Cruise 150 forms part of a larger programme of research ("Benthic processes in the Arabian Sea: mechanistic relationships between benthos, sediment, biogeochemistry and organic matter cycling"), focusing on the benthic biogeochemistry of the Pakistan Margin, that includes four cruises in total (CD145, 146, 150 and 151). The primary objectives of the present cruise are:
a) to revisit a series of five previously established study sites (A140, A300, A950, A1200 and A1850) spanning the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone as it impinges on the seabed at the Pakistan Margin; b) to assess the chemical oceanography of the water column overlying these sites, through CTD sensor profiles and chemical determinations on water bottle samples from both the CTD and BBLS; c) to initiate a programme of detailed seabed sampling at these sites to determine a suite of biological, chemical and biogeochemical parameters using a Megacorer and a multicorer; d) to assess and sample the megabenthos of these sites by the combined use of trawling (Agassiz trawl) and seabed photography (WASP); e) as possible, to carry out similar operations at a site located at a depth between A300 and A950; f) as possible, to provide additional general characterisation of the seabed in the area of these sites using acoustic remote sensing (EM12 and 3.5 kHz) and seabed imagery (WASP). CD150 sailed Muscat (Oman) 22 August 2003 and proceed to the Indus Margin to carry out a programme of work as detailed above. The work was undertaken between 24 Aug-12 Sep, the vessel returning to Muscat 15 September 2003 (full details are given in cruise report). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief scientist | Brian James Bett (Southampton Oceanography Centre) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Project | Benthic processes in the Arabian Sea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinating body | NERC (NER/A/S/2000/01382) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cruise report | (2.99 MB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ocean/sea areas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Indian Ocean Arabian Sea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Specific | Indian Ocean; Arabian Sea; Indus Margin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track charts | (0.49 MB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Measurements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Physical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: Water Column: CTD data and water bottle casts at 7 sites spanning OMZ, generating CTD profile data. Various chemical analyses from water bottles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: Water Column: CTD data and water bottle casts at 7 sites spanning OMZ, generating CTD profile data. Various chemical analyses from water bottles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: Water Column: CTD casts at seven sites in the upper boundary of the OMZ (soundings c. 90-300m), generating CTD profile data. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemical oceanography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
pH | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Radioactivity | Quantity: number of hauls = 12 Description: AGASSIZ TRAWL HAULS: 12 successful hauls (11 yielding biological material) at various sites throughout the OMZ (soundings c. 140-1820), generating general trawl catch samples, ethanol preserved material for genetic studies, tissue and whole animal samples for various biochemical assessments, gut content radionuclides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Isotopes | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other chemical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contamination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trace metals | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biology and fisheries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids) | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids) | Quantity: number of hauls = 12 Description: AGASSIZ TRAWL HAULS: 12 successful hauls (11 yielding biological material) at various sites throughout the OMZ (soundings c. 140-1820), generating general trawl catch samples, ethanol preserved material for genetic studies, tissue and whole animal samples for various biochemical assessments, gut content radionuclides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phytobenthos | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Biology: Megacore and multicore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of macrobenthos and meiobenthos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of hauls = 12 Description: AGASSIZ TRAWL HAULS: 12 successful hauls (11 yielding biological material) at various sites throughout the OMZ (soundings c. 140-1820), generating general trawl catch samples, ethanol preserved material for genetic studies, tissue and whole animal samples for various biochemical assessments, gut content radionuclides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Biology: Megacore and multicore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of macrobenthos and meiobenthos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of hauls = 12 Description: AGASSIZ TRAWL HAULS: 12 successful hauls (11 yielding biological material) at various sites throughout the OMZ (soundings c. 140-1820), generating general trawl catch samples, ethanol preserved material for genetic studies, tissue and whole animal samples for various biochemical assessments, gut content radionuclides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geology and geophysics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Chemistry: megacore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of various parameters including photosynthetic pigments, lipids, Thorium, biochemicals, pH, trace metals, DOC, DIC, sulphate, radionuclides. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of stations = 6 Description: Sediment Biology: Megacore and multicore samples collected at 6 sites spanning the OMZ. Samples retained for the analysis of macrobenthos and meiobenthos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bottom photography | Quantity: number of deployments = 23 Description: WASP CAMERA TOWS: various sites throught the OMZ (soundings c. 140-1850 m) generating digital video footage (c. 20 hours) and still photographs (c. 7000). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Single-beam echosounding | Quantity: activity duration in days = 21 Description: ECHO-SOUNDING: Simrad EA500 10kHZz sounding run more-or-less continuously | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Multi-beam echosounding | Quantity: activity duration in days = 1 Description: SWATH BATHYMETRY: limited Simard EM12 operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Single channel seismic reflection | Quantity: activity duration in days = 1 Description: SUB-BOTTOM PROFILING: limited operation of 3.5 kHz profiling system | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Data held at BODC | Get data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series/Profiles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 Bottle station | Reference numbers Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Quality control flags Reference numbers Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Vertical spatial coordinates Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Quality control flags
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Discrete samples | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 CTD frame plus rosette sampler | Transmittance and attenuance of the water column Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column Salinity of the water column Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column Temperature of the water column Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column Silicate concentration parameters in the water column Density of the water column Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | Salinity of the water column |