RV Prince Madog PD21/04
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Prince Madog (74P2) |
| Cruise identifier | PD21/04 |
| Cruise period | 2004-05-26 — 2004-06-05 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Menai Bridge, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Menai Bridge, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | BACKGROUND:
It is suspected that turbulence controls the properties of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in tide-stirred shelf seas and so controls the vertical flux of SPM and organic carbon to the seabed, but there are very few observational data to support theoretical and laboratory evidence. These uncertainties constitute major prediction-limiting factors in water quality and ecosystem models. We have preliminary data which support turbulence control of particle disaggregation in the boundary layer and provide evidence for aggregation at the base of the thermocline. The aim of the project is to make in situ observations of turbulence and SPM under a range of dynamic conditions to develop functional relationships between turbulence and SPM, and to explore temporal/spatial evolution of SPM properties, particularly with respect to aggregation, resuspension, and advection of lateral differential size and concentration gradients. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: To obtain high quality observational data sets of tidal flow, in situ SPM and turbulence properties in contrasting energy regimes. To investigate generic relationships between SPM and turbulence properties. To investigate and model the time history of aggregate development and vertical/lateral exchanges. SPECIFIC CRUISE OBJECTIVES: Deploy an ADCP mooring to determine tidal flow, stress, and TKE production estimates. Obtain full CTD profiles to determine water column structure. Obtain surface and deep-water samples & filter for suspended sediments. Carry out hourly series of FLY measurements to determine profiles of TKE dissipation. Carry out LISST 100 and LISST-FLOC profiles, for data inter-comparison. Deploy settling velocity tubes in bottom and surface regions. Deploy 5-beam ADCP in Liverpool Bay for inter-comparison with 1200kHz Z-head ADCP. |
| Chief scientist | Neil Fisher (University of Wales, Bangor School of Ocean Sciences) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland Irish Sea and St. George's Channel |
| Specific | Clyde Sea; Irish Sea |
| Track charts |  (0.08 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 21 Description: 1 times series with the ship drifting on the tide (Drifter 3 - 23) with hourly CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 17 Description: 2 transects of 10 stations (HH1-HH10) and (T1-T10 where T5 also moored ADCP station, see above). At each station, CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 21 Description: 1 times series with the ship drifting on the tide (Drifter 3 - 23) with hourly CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 17 Description: 2 transects of 10 stations (HH1-HH10) and (T1-T10 where T5 also moored ADCP station, see above). At each station, CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of stations = 17 Description: 2 transects of 10 stations (HH1-HH10) and (T1-T10 where T5 also moored ADCP station, see above). At each station, CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| Transparency (eg transmissometer) | Quantity: number of profiles = 21 Description: 1 times series with the ship drifting on the tide (Drifter 3 - 23) with hourly CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Other physical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| Contamination | |
| Suspended matter | Quantity: number of profiles = 21 Description: 1 times series with the ship drifting on the tide (Drifter 3 - 23) with hourly CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Suspended matter | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| Suspended matter | Quantity: number of stations = 17 Description: 2 transects of 10 stations (HH1-HH10) and (T1-T10 where T5 also moored ADCP station, see above). At each station, CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of profiles = 21 Description: 1 times series with the ship drifting on the tide (Drifter 3 - 23) with hourly CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of stations = 17 Description: 2 transects of 10 stations (HH1-HH10) and (T1-T10 where T5 also moored ADCP station, see above). At each station, CTD and LISST (combination of LISST 25, LISST 100c and LISST-FLOC) profiles carried out. |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: At mooring stations identified in section above, 25-50 hr timeseries of CTD, FLY, LISST and settling velocity measurements made. |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 55° 21' 0" N 5° 3' 58" W — Station name: Clyde Sea, C2, deployment of 300Khz ADCP |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 53° 27' 40" N 4° 32' 2" W — Station name: Irish Sea, Station Ethel, deployment of 1200Khz Z-head ADCP |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 53° 28' 28" N 3° 38' 28" W — Station name: Liverpool Bay, Station T5, deployment of 1200kHz Z-head ADCP |
| Current profiler (eg ADCP) | 53° 28' 30" N 3° 38' 45" W — Station name: Liverpool Bay, Station T5, deployment of 600kHz 5-beam ADCP |
