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RV Seward Johnson SJ-14-06

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Seward Johnson (33SW)
Cruise identifierSJ-14-06
Cruise period2006-09-25 — 2006-10-12
StatusCompleted
Port of departureFort Pierce, United States
Port of returnFort Pierce, United States
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe RAPID/MOCHA program is a joint research effort between the National Oceanography Centre (Southampton, U.K.), the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), and NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). The objective of this program is to establish a pre-operational prototype system to continuously observe the strength and structure of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation across the basin at 26º N. The U.K. program is referred to as "RAPID-MOC" and is a part of the U.K. Rapid Climate Change Program (RAPID) funded by the National Environmental Research Council (NERC). The U.S. program is referred to as "MOCHA" (Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heat-flux Array) and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). NOAA provides significant support for the overall effort through its Western Boundary Time Series Program.

The purpose of cruise SJ-14-06 was fourfold:
1)to service 4 mooring sites that constitute part of the "western boundary array" of the RAPID/MOCHA transbasin moored array
2)to conduct hydrographic (CTDO2) and direct current profiling (lowered-ADCP, "LADCP") stations along the 26.5 º N mooring section off Abaco, Bahamas; and along sections in the Northwest Providence Channel and Florida Current at 27º N,
3)to service 3 inverted echo sounder (IES) sites, deploy 4 new IESs, and recover data (via acoustic telemetry) from two IESs that had been deployed previously along the Abaco 26.5ºN line, and
4)to deploy a number of satellite-tracked surface drifters and ARGO profiling floats at locations in the Florida Current and the region offshore of Abaco.

The cruise began with occupation of the Florida Current CTDO2/LADCP section at 27ºN enroute to Freeport, Bahamas to clear in for research in Bahamian waters. This section measures the outflow through the Straits of Florida where AOML monitors the Florida Current volume transport via submarine electromagnetic cable.

After departing Freeport, the ship proceeded to deep water offshore of Abaco where the 26.5º N section was occupied, consisting of 23 CTDO2/LADCP stations extending from Abaco to 72º W. This section sampled the Deep Western Boundary Current and Antilles Current region east of the Bahamas and is part of an ongoing time series of these currents collected since 1984 by the AOML group. The CTDO2/LADCP stations collected on this section are also important for calibration and cross-checking of results from the western boundary moored array.

Following completion of the Abaco section, mooring servicing operations were commenced from east to west across the RAPID/MOCHA array. Servicing of the IES sites, including acoustic telemetry, was also accomplished during this period, except for three IESs which were deployed during the Abaco CTD section. After the mooring operations were completed, the planned CTDO2/LADCP section across Northwest Providence Channel had to be cancelled due to insufficient remaining time (owing to difficulties with some of the mooring deployments, see section 3.a). The ship cleared out via Freeport and finally steamed across the 27º N Florida Current section while sampling the current with shipboard ADCP and XBT profiles on the return to Harbor Branch for cruise disembarkation.
Chief scientistWilliam E Johns (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science)
ProjectRAPID/MOCHA
Coordinating bodyNSF/AOML/NERC
Cruise reportRV Seward Johnson SJ-14-06 cruise report sewardjohnson14_06.pdf (0.29 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth West Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificWestern North Atlantic 26N, Florida Straits
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
BathythermographQuantity: activity duration in days = 18
Description: Underway measurements. SADCP
Water bottle stationsDescription: Water bottle samples from CTD stations
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 42
Description: CTD/LADCP casts
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 18
Description: Underway measurements. SADCP
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: activity duration in days = 18
Description: Underway measurements. SADCP
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 30' 19" N  76° 26' 11" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62234
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 29' 53" N  72° 22' 21" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 631/64121
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 30' 14" N  72° 22' 21" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62231
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 30' 2" N  73° 1' 58" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62232
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 30' 34" N  74° 14' 20" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62227
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 29' 54" N  75° 5' 20" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 621/64111
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 29' 53" N  75° 5' 28" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62226
Surface drifters/drifting buoys27° 0' 16" N  79° 11' 34" W — Drifting buyo deployment S/N 62228
Surface drifters/drifting buoys27° 1' 23" N  79° 22' 35" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62233
Surface drifters/drifting buoys27° 2' 10" N  79° 35' 59" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62229
Surface drifters/drifting buoys27° 2' 11" N  79° 47' 3" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 62225
Surface drifters/drifting buoys26° 31' 22" N  73° 33' 17" W — Drifting buoy deployment S/N 634/64124
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 29' 53" N  72° 0' 17" W — Mooring E:PIES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 30' 0" N  74° 47' 59" W — Mooring D2: IES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 30' 0" N  73° 51' 59" W — Mooring D3:PIES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 30' 5" N  76° 5' 11" W — Mooring IES C: PIES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 29' 53" N  72° 45' 59" W — Mooring D4: IES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 29' 57" N  71° 58' 16" W — Mooring BJEL: Bottom pressure
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 29' 29" N  76° 28' 11" W — Mooring IES B: PIES
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 29' 26" N  76° 29' 53" W — Mooring BJBL: Bottom pressure
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)26° 30' 0" N  76° 44' 35" W — Mooring IES A2: Inverted echo sounder
Other physical oceanographic measurements26° 30' 30" N  76° 50' 30" W — Mooring site BJA: temperature and salinity
Other physical oceanographic measurements26° 30' 37" N  76° 44' 37" W — Mooring WB2: temperature and salinity
Other physical oceanographic measurements26° 29' 26" N  76° 29' 53" W — Mooring BJB: temperature and salinity
Other physical oceanographic measurements26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 17" W — Mooring BJE: temperature and salinity
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
14  Acoustic current meter
Moored instrument depth
Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Moored instrument depth
Reference numbers
Date and time
Temperature of the water column
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
8955092006-10-11 00:00  — 2007-03-27 00:00 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 895509
8955342006-10-11 00:00  — 2007-03-27 00:00 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 895534
8352292006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835229
8955222006-10-11 00:00  — 2007-03-27 00:00 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 895522
8351982006-10-11 00:00  — 2007-08-01 00:00 26° 30' 28" N  76° 50' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835198
8352052006-10-11 00:00  — 2008-03-13 00:00 26° 30' 28" N  76° 50' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835205
8352542006-10-11 12:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835254
8352302006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-01-16 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835230
8352662006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835266
8352172006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835217
8955102006-10-11 00:00  — 2006-11-20 00:00 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 895510
8352422006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835242
8352782006-10-08 00:00  — 2008-04-17 00:00 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 835278
8954912006-10-11 00:00  — 2007-03-27 00:00 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 895491
1  Acoustic doppler current profiler
Reference numbers
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Reference numbers
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
8384122006-10-11 00:00  — 2008-04-19 00:00 26° 30' 28" N  76° 50' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 838412
3  Inverted Echo Sounder
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Sea level
Sound velocity and travel time in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Sea level

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
17814672006-10-03 12:00  — 2008-04-13 12:00 26° 29' 56" N  72° 0' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1781467
17814182006-10-07 12:00  — 2008-09-28 12:00 26° 30' 3" N  76° 5' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1781418
17813632006-10-07 12:00  — 2008-09-27 12:00 26° 29' 27" N  76° 28' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1781363
47  Moored CTD
Moored instrument depth
Reference numbers
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Moored instrument depth
Reference numbers
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7757162006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:02 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775716
7758572006-10-11 05:00:02  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775857
8312042006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:01 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831204
8313822006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831382
7757282006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775728
8313572006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831357
8313942006-10-05 02:00  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831394
8314492006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00:02 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831449
7757892006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775789
8311852006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831185
8312902006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831290
8313452006-10-05 02:30  — 2008-04-13 11:00:02 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831345
8313692006-10-05 02:30  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831369
8314132006-10-05 02:30  — 2008-04-13 11:00:02 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831413
8314502006-10-05 02:30  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831450
7757412006-10-11 05:00:02  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775741
8311972006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831197
8313212006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00:02 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831321
7757532006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:02 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775753
7758332006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775833
7758692006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775869
8311242006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831124
8311482006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831148
8312652006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:03 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831265
8313082006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831308
8314372006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831437
7757042006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775704
7757652006-10-11 05:00:02  — 2007-03-27 14:30:02 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775765
7757772006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775777
7758702006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775870
8311612006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:01 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831161
8311732006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:01 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831173
8312282006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831228
7758082006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:02 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775808
7758212006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775821
7758452006-10-11 05:00  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775845
8311362006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831136
8313332006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00:02 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831333
8314012006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831401
7757902006-10-11 05:00:02  — 2007-03-27 14:30:01 26° 30' 43" N  76° 44' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 775790
8312162006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:01 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831216
8312412006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:01 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831241
8312532006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:02 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831253
8312772006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:03 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831277
8312892006-10-07 22:30  — 2008-04-17 11:30:03 26° 29' 40" N  76° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831289
8313702006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831370
8314252006-10-05 02:30:01  — 2008-04-13 11:00 26° 30' 0" N  71° 58' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 831425
Discrete samples 
42  CTD frame plus rosette sampler
13  Drifting Buoy
9  Instrument mooring