English Channel to just off shelf-break in the North East Atlantic

Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies; Bacteria taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Bacteria generic abundance in water bodies; Bacteria generic abundance in sediment; Metal uptake rates in the water column; Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column; Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies; Other halocarbon concentrations in water bodies; Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column; Stable isotopes in biota; Vertical velocity of the water column (currents); Trace metalloid and inorganic selenium concentrations in biota; Sediment grain size parameters; Zooplankton reproduction rate parameters; Microzooplankton generic abundance in water bodies; Microzooplankton grazing; Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column; Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column; Uptake of other nutrients in the water column; Primary production in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Ocean colour and earth-leaving visible waveband spectral radiation; Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents); Temperature of the water column; Stable isotopes in water bodies; Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column; Zooplankton non taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column; Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column; Phytoplankton growth; Phytoplankton generic abundance in water bodies; Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column; Suspended particulate material grain size parameters; Bacteria taxonomic abundance in sediment; Dissolved noble gas concentration parameters in the water column; Concentration of organic matter in water bodies; Phytoplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Silicate concentration parameters in the water column; Microzooplankton taxonomic abundance in water bodies; Oxygen production and respiration in the water column; Zooplankton feeding

Fluorometers; current meters; radiometers; optical backscatter sensors; plankton nets; discrete water samplers; ocean colour radiometers; continuous water samplers; particulates samplers; nutrient analysers; CTD; water body temperature sensor; dissolved gas sensors

The cruise focused on changes in the microbial community structure, dynamics and processes in key biogeomes from the English Channel to the area off the shelf break in the North East Atlantic. It was part of the five year (2001 - 2006) NERC PML Core Strategic Research Project on Microbially Driven Biogeochemistry (MDB). An underway gradient from Southampton to off the Atlantic shelf edge was sampled. Sampling was also carried out at 2-3 comparative stations that covered the winter baseline and onset of a spring bloom, and at PML/MBAs long term time series stations L4 and E1 off Plymouth. A floating drogued buoy was used to track a water mass through the development of the spring bloom and the characteristics of this changing water mass were monitored in a Lagrangian study.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Prospect Place The Hoe
Plymouth
England
PL1 3DH
United Kingdom