Resources

RRS Challenger CH144

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH144
Cruise period1999-06-27 — 1999-07-26
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnSouthampton, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe cruise was organised in support of the EU SEAMAR (Shelf-Edge Advection, Mortality and Recruitment) contract to develop a bio-physical transport model for the planktonic stages of mackerel. The main cruise objectives were:
a) to describe regional variations in growth and survival potential of mackerel larvae and post-larvae in relation to hydrobiological conditions;
b) to provide sea-truth calibration data for SeaWiFS remote sensing.
Chief scientistStephen H Coombs (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
ProjectEU SEAMAR (Shelf-Edge Advection, Mortality and Recruitment)
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH144 cruise report ch144.pdf (0.31 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
Celtic Sea
Bay of Biscay
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Specificoff NW Spain, Bilbao, La Rochelle, Ushant, Cockburn Bank, Mizzen Head, W edge of Porcupine Bank, N. Porcupine, Donegal Bay, Porcupine Seabight, Goban Spur, Great Sole Bank, W English Channel
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Surface measurements underway (T,S)Description: continuous surface recordings of temperature and salinity obtained from some sections along the ship's track.
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsDescription: vertical profiles of temperature and salinity collected to 100m depth at all stations.
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Description: Observations of light taken at midday.
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Description: Current profiles to a maximum of 320m obtained throughout the cruise using a 300kHz ADCP.
Chemical oceanography 
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
NitrateQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
NitriteQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
Biology and fisheries 
Primary productivityQuantity: number of stations = 17
Description: primary production experiments carried out by on-board incubation from pre-dawn water bottle sampling. Filtered samples preserved for nutrient analysis.
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Description: continuous chlorophyll 'a' measurements from some sections of the ship's track.
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 271
Description: 100m depth using a 60cm coarse mesh Bongo net and Plankton Sampling Mechanism attached to a U-tow.
NeustonQuantity: number of hauls = 167
Description: Mackerel larvae survey. 111 MIK net and 56 neuston net tows.
Eggs and larvaeQuantity: number of hauls = 167
Description: Mackerel larvae survey. 111 MIK net and 56 neuston net tows.