RRS James Clark Ross JR20081212 (JR194, JR197)

Cruise summary report

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Cruise Info.

Ship name (ship code)

RRS James Clark Ross (74JC)

Cruise identifier

JR20081212 (JR194, JR197)

Cruise period

2008-12-12 — 2008-12-23

Status

Completed

Port of departure

Stanley, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Port of return

Unknown, Antarctica

Purpose

Research

Objectives

JR194 was a short CTD section across Drake Passage, making the 14th repeat along WOCE section SR1b. This was also an opportunity to make quantitative microplankton measurements (flow cytometry) extending the line of such measurements from AMT (Atlantic Meridional Transect) from the Falklands south to the Antarctic Peninsula.

The aim of JR197 was to take sea level measurements from Drake Passage. Bottom Pressure Recorders have been used for making measurements of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) since 1988, initially in the Scotia Sea and then later across the Drake Passage between the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic peninsula. Some of the Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPRs) are combined with Inverted Echo Sounders (IES). During JR197, one BPR and one BPR/IES were recovered and re-deployed in the Drake Passage. An additional BPR was deployed and a data pod was also recovered from MYRTLE (Multi-Year Return Tidal Level Equipment). The Sea Level Recorders at Stanley, Falkland Islands, Vernadsky and Rothera Research Stations in Antarctica, were also serviced.

Chief scientist

Graham D Quartly (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton), Miguel Angel Morales Maqueda (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)

Project

Oceans 2025

Coordinating body

NERC

Cruise report

(1.69 MB)

(0.20 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

South West Atlantic Ocean (limit 20W)

Specific

Drake Passage

Track charts

(0.09 MB)

Measurements

Physical oceanography

Surface measurements underway (T,S)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 9
Description: Ocean logger, with thermosalinograph (temperature & salinity), fluorometer & transmissometer

Water bottle stations

Quantity: number of stations = 32
Description: Salinity samples (typically 12) taken on all stations

CTD stations

Quantity: number of stations = 32
Description: 2 test stations near Falklands; 30 for transect along SR1b. Temperature (x2), Salinity (x2), Fluorescence, PAR, Oxygen, Transmittance

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

Quantity: number of stations = 32
Description: LADCP working on most CTD stations

Current profiler (eg ADCP)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 9
Description: Continuous VM ADCP (75 kHz, typically reaching down 800m)

Neutrally buoyant floats

Quantity: number of deployments = 7
Description: ARGO floats deployed on Drake Passage leg

Biology and fisheries

Biochemical measurements (eg lipids, amino acids)

Quantity: number of stations = 4
Description: Bacterial activity and microbial uptake at ambient concentrations

Phytoplankton

Quantity: activity duration in days = 9
Description: Flow cytometry analysis (bacterioplankton and micro phytoplankton) of surface (6m depth) samples taken every 30 mins

Phytoplankton

Quantity: number of stations = 32
Description: Flow cytometry analysis (bacterioplankton and micro phytoplankton) of CTD Niskin samples (surface to sea-bed)

Zooplankton

Quantity: number of stations = 5
Description: Sea trials of size-fractionated microplankton net

Meteorology

Routine standard measurements

Quantity: activity duration in days = 9
Description: Met system (air temperature, wind speed & direction, relative humidity, PAR & TIR)

Geology and geophysics

Single-beam echosounding

Quantity: activity duration in days = 9
Description: Echo sounder (EA600) record of bottom

Moorings, landers, buoys

Physical oceanography