RV Oceanus OC446

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info.

Ship name (ship code)

RV Oceanus (32OC)

Cruise identifier

OC446

Cruise period

2008-05-10 — 2008-05-19

Status

Completed

Port of departure

Woods Hole, United States

Port of return

Woods Hole, United States

Purpose

Research

Objectives

R/V Oceanus departed Woods Hole at 10 AM on May 10. Sea surface temperature imagery for the week prior to the cruise revealed a large northward meander in the Gulf Stream with the axis of the warm core
roughly at mooring site 4. Sampling was initiated with the first set of CTD stations (numbers 1-6)
that extended from the 90-m isobath across the shelf break to approximately 2000m water depth. Recovery of the bottom pressure gauge (BPR) at site W0. It surfaced, was quickly sighted and brought aboard. Then proceeded to mooring site W1 for recovery of the Moored Profiler mooring at that site and a BPR. A new BPR at W1 was then deployed and the redeployed the MPM. Hydrographic casts at sites 7 and 8 were occupied at night and then the ship was directed to the site W2. However, winds and associated seas increased significantly over night due the approach of a major low pressure system that caused major wind and rain damage farther south; mooring and hydrographic work on May 12 was not possible, so headed back to Woods Hole early to pick up the remaining mooring components. Arrived 8am May 13.

Most of the day was spent loading and securing the new mooring gear. Given that the winds were still strong, it was decided to delay leg 2 departure until 8AM on May 14. Proceeded to site W0 to deploy a new BPR. Then proceeded to W6. Given the time lost to the May 12-13 storm and return to port to pick up more mooring gear, and with an eye ahead to another storm forecast, it was decided not to extend the CTD line farther to the south. Our southernmost station at site 17 was occupied in the evening of May 15. Vessel directed north to W5. BPR recovered successfully despite it suffering a leak and the 2006-7 mooring at
M5 was recovered and the old wire off-spooled. CTD station at nominal site 14. The BPR was redeployed; the winds and waves did not allow the redeployment of the mooring. Hydrographic stations 13-9 were completed.

3 complete moorings remain to be recovered and redeployed with a 4th mooring at site 5 to be deployed.

Chief scientist

John M Toole (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Department of Physical Oceanography)

Project

Rapid Climate Change (RAPID), West Atlantic Variability Experiment (WAVE)

Coordinating body

NERC, NSF, WHOI and LDEO

Cruise report

(0.11 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

North West Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)

Specific

North-west Atlantic, south of New England.

Track charts

(0.03 MB)

Measurements

Physical oceanography

Surface measurements underway (T,S)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: underway surface ocean parameters

Water bottle stations

Quantity: number of stations = 17
Description: discrete water samples: salinity, dissolved oxygen and CFCs

CTD stations

Quantity: number of stations = 17
Description: temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen

Meteorology

Routine standard measurements

Quantity: activity duration in days = 12
Description: underway atmospheric parameters

Moorings, landers, buoys

Physical oceanography

Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements

39° 35' 49" N 69° 41' 42" W — Site W1: Fixed sensors mooring successfully redeployed: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors; bottom depth 2227m.

Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements

38° 10' 41" N 68° 34' 0" W — Site W5: Fixed sensors mooring recovered: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors, bottom depth 4102m

Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements

39° 35' 49" N 69° 41' 41" W — Site W1: Fixed sensors mooring recovered: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors, bottom depth 2227m.

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

39° 35' 49" N 69° 41' 41" W — Site W1: Fixed sensors mooring recovered: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors, bottom depth 2227m.

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

39° 35' 49" N 69° 41' 42" W — Site W1: Fixed sensors mooring successfully redeployed: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors; bottom depth 2227m.

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

38° 10' 41" N 68° 34' 0" W — Site W5: Fixed sensors mooring recovered: current meter profile and temperature and salinity sensors, bottom depth 4102m