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RV Prince Madog PD29/06

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Prince Madog (74P2)
Cruise identifierPD29/06
Cruise period2006-09-21 — 2006-09-23
StatusCompleted
Port of departureMenai Bridge, United Kingdom
Port of returnMenai Bridge, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives
1) At 53 degrees 32 minutes N 3 degrees 21.8 minutes W, half a mile west of the Mersey Bar Light Vessel (site A)
To recover: (a) A sea bed frame for a 600 kHz ADCP (waves ADCP) to measure the mean current profile, pressures and directional waves (b) A CEFAS SmartBuoy (with cellulose rope) in a single point mooring with Sea-Bird MicroCAT temperature, conductivity loggers at 5m and 10m below the surface (c) A sea bed frame for a nutrient analyser measuring nitrate and phosphate four times a semi-diurnal tidal cycle.
To deploy: (d) A sea bed frame for a 600 kHz ADCP (waves ADCP) to measure the mean current profile, pressures and directional waves (e) A CEFAS SmartBuoy (with cellulose bags) in a single point mooring with Sea-Bird MicroCAT temperature, conductivity loggers at 5m and 10m below the surface.

2) At 53 degrees 27 minutes N 3 degrees 38.6 minutes W (site 21, second site, B)
To recover: (f) A sea bed frame for a 600 kHz ADCP (waves ADCP) to measure the mean current profile, pressures and directional waves (g) A CEFAS SmartBuoy (with cellulose rope and trace metal monitor) in a single point mooring.
To deploy: (h) A sea bed frame for a 600 kHz ADCP (waves ADCP) to measure the mean current profile, pressures and directional waves (i) A CEFAS SmartBuoy (with cellulose bags) in a single point mooring.

3. To conduct a CTD / LISST survey of 34 sites every 5 miles covering the eastern Irish Sea between the North Wales coast and Blackpool and the Lancashire coast and the Great Orme, to determine the effects of the rivers Dee, Mersey and Ribble on Liverpool Bay.
4. To obtain calibration samples for salinity, transmittance, suspended sediment and for chlorophyll at selected stations.
5. To obtain near surface and bed water samples for nutrient and suspended sediment determination.
6. To obtain trace metal water samples at sites 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and two sites furthest away from the coast (28, 29).
7. To collect 10 vertica
Chief scientistPhil J Knight (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)
ProjectPOL Coastal Observatory
Coordinating bodyNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Cruise reportRV Prince Madog PD29/06 cruise report pd29_06.pdf (0.18 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralIrish Sea and St. George's Channel
SpecificLiverpool Bay and eastern Irish Sea
Track chartsRV Prince Madog PD29/06 cruise track — pd29_06trk.pdf (0.10 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 37
Description: Water samples were taken from a near bed bottle for calibration of the CTD salinity data.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 37
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling temperature and conductivity 3 m above the bed.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 37
Description: Sea surface temperature, salinity and transmittance were calibrated against the CTD by BODC.
Transparency (eg transmissometer)Quantity: number of stations = 35
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling transmittance 3 m above the bed. Water samples were taken from the near surface and near bed bottles were filtered to determine suspended sediment load and calibrate the CTD transmissometer
Optics (eg underwater light levels)Quantity: number of stations = 35
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling PAR light levels 3 m above the bed
Chemical oceanography 
OxygenQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling oxygen (no calibration samples) 3 m above the bed
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: Water samples were taken from the near surface and near bed bottles and frozen for nutrient analysis by NOC
NitrateQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: Water samples were taken from the near surface and near bed bottles and frozen for nutrient analysis by NOC
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: Water samples were taken from the near surface and near bed bottles and frozen for nutrient analysis by NOC
Contamination 
Suspended matterQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling transmittance 3 m above the bed. Water samples were taken from the near surface and near bed bottles were filtered to determine suspended sediment load and calibrate the CTD transmissometer
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 35
Description: The Sea-Bird 911 CTD recorded downwelling fluorescence at 24 Hz 3 m above the bed. Water samples from the second near surface bottle from stations 1 and 21 were filtered for chlorophyll determination
Meteorology 
Other meteorological measurementsQuantity: activity duration in days = 3
Description: parameters recorded every minute by the WS Oceans surface sampling system 3 m below sea level: Date, Solar Radiation, PAR, Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, Relative Wind Speed, Relative Wind Direction (zero indicates wind on the bow), Transmissance, Hull Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Fluorescence, Turbidity, Salinity, Minimum Air Temp, Maximum Air Temp, Wind Gust, GPS Time, Latitude, Longitude, Barometric Pressure Minimum, Barometric Pressure Maximum, Conductivity sensor water temperature.
Moorings, landers, buoys 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stations53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring fitted with surface CTD. Recovery and Deployment
Optics (eg underwater light levels)53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with light sensors at 1 and 2 m below the surface. Recovery and Deployment
Current meters53° 32' 1" N  3° 21' 31" W — Site A: SonTek ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter); ADV Logger 258 Sensor height above bed 1.305m. Sample rate 16Hz; burst interval 3600s; samples in each burst 19200; burst length 1200s. Recovery and Deployment
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 32' 1" N  3° 21' 31" W — Site A: Waves ADCP 600 kHz RDI 2391. Mode 1: 100 pings every 10 minutes (velocity standard deviation 0.007 m s-1). 35 x 1 m bins (2.65-36.65 m above the bed). Fitted with a pressure sensor and 1 Gbyte PCMCIA memory; hourly wave recording enabled. Recovery and Deployment
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 26' 57" N  3° 38' 39" W — Site B: Telemetry toroid ADCP 1200 kHz RDI 0572. Mode 1: 100 pings every 10 minutes (velocity standard deviation 0.003 m s-1). 30 x 1 m bins (2.15-31.15 m above the bed). LinkQuest acoustic modem set for transmission of ADCP data every hour. Recovery and Deployment
Current profiler (eg ADCP)53° 26' 58" N  3° 38' 37" W — Site B: Waves ADCP 600 kHz RDI 3644Mode 1: 100 pings every 10 minutes (velocity standard deviation 0.007 m s-1). 35 x 1 m bins (2.65 - 36.65 m above the bed). Fitted with a pressure sensor and 1Gbyte PCMCIA memory; hourly wave recording enabled. Recovery and Deployment
Surface drifters/drifting buoys53° 23' 24" N  3° 14' 24" W — Wave buoy (Hilbre Channel) Deployment
Surface drifters/drifting buoys53° 27' 2" N  3° 38' 26" W — Site B: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with a surface CTD (including turbidity and fluorescence sensors). The frame was fitted with a rope loop for the determination of bacterial degradation and a trace metal monitor. Recovery and Deployment
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 32' 1" N  3° 21' 31" W — Site A: Sea-Bird 16plus S/N 4596 on base of frame with pumped conductivity sensor underneath. SeaPoint turbidity sensor S/N 10487 taped to roll bar; set up for 0 - 125 FTU range. Sample interval 600 s; digiquartz integration time 40 s, range 400; pump 0.5s, 1 s delay. Samples = 5642. Recovery and Deployment
Sea level (inc. bot. press., inverted echosounder)53° 26' 58" N  3° 38' 37" W — Site B: Sea-Bird 16plus S/N 4736 on base of frame with pumped conductivity sensor underneath. SeaPoint turbidity sensor taped to roll bar S/N 10490; set up for 0 - 125 FTU range. Sample interval 600 s; digiquartz integration time 40s, range 400; run pump 0.5s, 1 s delay. 5638 samples. Recovery and Deployment
Other physical oceanographic measurements53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: Sea-Bird MicroCAT temperature and conductivity recorder Serial number 2081 at 10 m below the surface. Sample interval 600s. 5521 samples. Serial number 2010 at 5 m below the surface. Sample interval 600s. 5527 samples. Recovery and Deployment
Chemical oceanography 
Oxygen53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with a water sampler which obtains water samples once per day for oxygen. (Aanderaa Optode). Recovery and Deployment
Phosphate53° 32' 0" N  3° 21' 45" W — Site A: Ecolab nutrient analyser measuring nitrate and phosphate four times in a semi-diurnal tidal cycle. Nutrient frame, Recovery
Nitrate53° 32' 0" N  3° 21' 45" W — Site A: Ecolab nutrient analyser measuring nitrate and phosphate four times in a semi-diurnal tidal cycle. Nutrient frame, Recovery
Silicate53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with a water sampler which obtains water samples once per day for laboratory nutrient (TOXN and silicate) Recovery and Deployment
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with a fluorometer (SeaPoint) and for chlorophyll determination. Recovery and Deployment
Geology and geophysics 
In-situ seafloor measurement/sampling53° 31' 59" N  3° 21' 47" W — SmartBuoy Site A: The CEFAS SmartBuoy Mooring is fitted with an in situ NAS2E nutrient analyzer. The frame was fitted with a rope loop for the determination of bacterial degradation. Recovery and Deployment
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
2  Acoustic doppler current profiler
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Metadata parameters
Sea level
Date and time
Vertical spatial coordinates
Vertical velocity of the water column (currents)
Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents)
Metadata parameters
Sea level

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
16233772006-09-22 11:30  — 2006-11-02 12:59:41 53° 27' 0" N  3° 38' 38" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1623377
16233652006-09-21 12:00  — 2006-11-01 13:49:37 53° 32' 1" N  3° 21' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1623365
18  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
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Quality control flags
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
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
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Quality control flags
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
13537992006-09-22 18:25 53° 47' 10" N  3° 21' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353799
13537512006-09-21 19:37 53° 22' 47" N  3° 38' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353751
13538062006-09-22 19:11 53° 42' 4" N  3° 21' 42" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353806
13538182006-09-22 20:38 53° 32' 14" N  3° 21' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353818
16779772006-09-22 20:38 53° 32' 14" N  3° 21' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677977
16779412006-09-22 17:45 53° 51' 47" N  3° 22' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677941
16779652006-09-22 19:11 53° 42' 4" N  3° 21' 42" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677965
16779042006-09-21 19:37 53° 22' 47" N  3° 38' 19" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677904
16779282006-09-22 11:37 53° 27' 5" N  3° 38' 33" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677928
13537262006-09-21 15:45 53° 32' 12" N  3° 21' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353726
16779532006-09-22 18:25 53° 47' 10" N  3° 21' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677953
13537752006-09-22 11:37 53° 27' 5" N  3° 38' 33" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353775
16779162006-09-22 06:22 53° 26' 56" N  3° 38' 40" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677916
13537632006-09-22 06:22 53° 26' 56" N  3° 38' 40" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353763
16778972006-09-21 17:58 53° 26' 53" N  3° 22' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677897
13537382006-09-21 17:58 53° 26' 53" N  3° 22' 20" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353738
13537872006-09-22 17:45 53° 51' 47" N  3° 22' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1353787
16778852006-09-21 15:45 53° 32' 12" N  3° 21' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1677885
2  Fluorometers
Reference numbers
Date and time
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Date and time
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7470822006-09-22 10:00  — 2006-10-25 23:30 53° 26' 54" N  3° 38' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747082
7471502006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-10-14 23:30 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747150
1  In-situ dissolved gas analyser
Reference numbers
Date and time
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7473102006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-11-02 08:00 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747310
1  In-situ nutrient analyser
Reference numbers
Date and time
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7474752006-09-23 07:08  — 2006-11-02 07:38 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747475
2  Moored CTD
Reference numbers
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7469692006-09-22 10:00  — 2006-11-02 12:30 53° 26' 54" N  3° 38' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 746969
7470332006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-11-02 08:00 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747033
2  Nephelometers and optical backscatter sensors
Reference numbers
Date and time
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7472542006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-10-17 23:30 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747254
7471982006-09-22 10:00  — 2006-10-30 23:30 53° 26' 54" N  3° 38' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747198
1  Surface water sample (unspecified)
Reference numbers
Date and time
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7475552006-09-22 00:00  — 2006-11-01 00:00 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747555
2  radiometers
Reference numbers
Date and time
Light extinction and diffusion coefficients
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Reference numbers
Date and time
Light extinction and diffusion coefficients
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
7474262006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-10-12 17:30 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747426
7473712006-09-21 12:30  — 2006-10-12 17:30 53° 32' 2" N  3° 21' 35" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 747371
Discrete samples 
38  CTD frame plus rosette samplerTransmittance 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
Visible waveband radiance and irradiance measurements in the water column
Silicate concentration parameters in the water column
Density of the water column
Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies
Raw light meter output
Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column
Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column
Raw suspended particulate material concentration sensor output
Raw fluorometer output
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
4  Instrument mooring