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RRS Discovery D323
Cruise summary report
Cruise Info. | |
Ship name (ship code) | RRS Discovery (74E3) |
Cruise identifier | D323 |
Cruise period | 2007-09-18 — 2007-10-03 |
Status | Completed |
Port of departure | Falmouth, United Kingdom |
Port of return | Falmouth, United Kingdom |
Purpose | Research |
Objectives | The main objective of the RRS Discovery Cruise 323 was to carry out the first deep sea field trials of the National Oceanography Centre developed Autosub6000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. We also took the opportunity, working with engineers from Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, to carry out deep water testing to test integrated two way Acoustic and Satellite communications systems. NOC Benthic Biologists also carried out seabed sampling operations at the base of the Whittard and King Arthur canyons.
As far as the Autosub6000 operations were concerned, the objectives of the cruise were completely met, with 8 dives, lasting 60 hours total and running for 278 km, to a maximum depth of 4553 m, and without faults. The POL test of the Acoustic and Satellite systems were a success, and the NOC Benthic biologists were successful in obtaining 34 seabed Mega core samples at the base of the Whittard canyon. |
Chief scientist | Stephen D McPhail (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton) |
Project | Oceans 2025 |
Coordinating body | NERC |
Cruise report | (1.45 MB) |
Ocean/sea areas | |
General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) |
Specific | North Atlantic Ocean |
Measurements | |
Geology and geophysics | |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 7 Description: Station: 16376. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.54, W10 10.96, Depth 4241. 31 cm sampled. |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 4 Description: Station: 16377. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.46, W10 10.99, Depth 4245. 14 cm sampled. |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 1 Description: Station: 16381. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.50, W10 11.02, Depth 4243. 18 cm sampled. |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 8 Description: Station: 16379. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.53, W10 11.02, Depth 4241. 29 cm sampled. |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 7 Description: Station: 16380. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.50, W10 11.02, Depth 4245. 25 cm sampled. |
Core - soft bottom | Quantity: number of cores = 8 Description: Station: 16378. Whittard Canyon. N47 22.47, W10 10.99, Depth 4243. 29 cm sampled. |