Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry blog

Showing posts with label DY030. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DY030. Show all posts

Friday 8 May 2015

Rough seas and science finally starts


Deploying the CTD. Credit: Gary Fones

The core aim of DY030 is to collect samples and data to understand how the chemistry and biology of the Celtic Sea link together to drive healthy and productive conditions, as well as how those conditions might change with climate change. After sailing we experienced some weather more associated with March than May – a number of scientists took to their cabins or just sat on deck staring at the horizon wishing the waves away! Those with their sea legs carried on and continued preparations in their various laboratories on the ship waiting for the science to start.

CTD. Credit: Torben Stichel
We eventually started work on the 6th May at one of our main Benthic Process sites – Benthic G. First up is always some CTD work even on a benthic sediment sampling research cruise. CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) is the stock instrument of any oceanographic cruise and enables us to understand the water column structure using a number of on-board sensors and collecting water samples from per-determined depths for subsequent analysis. After a slow start it is always nice to get the first sampling underway.

CTD. Credit: Richard Cooke



Tuesday 5 May 2015

The Start: DY030


4th May 2015 saw the commencement of DY030 aboard the RRS Discovery, the latest cruise in the Shelf-Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) programme. The aim of the NERC Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry research programme is to take a holistic approach to the cycling of nutrients and carbon, and the controls on primary and secondary production in UK and European Shelf Seas, and to increase understanding of these processes and their role in wider biogeochemical cycles.

RRS Discovery. Photo credit: Jessy Klar
Of the 4 main work packages this cruise will mainly focus on Work Package 2 (Biogeochemistry, macronutrient and carbon cycling in the benthic layer) and Work Package 3 (The Supply of Iron from Shelf Sediments to the Ocean), but with facets of the CANDYFLOSS Pelagic Work package. All Work packages contribute to the overall Integrated modelling effort of Work Package 4.

Aboard RRS Discovery. Photo credit: Richard Cooke
This mainly benthic focussed cruise is the third of four benthic cruises following on from DY008 in Spring 2014 and DY021 in March 2015. DY030 will include the use of a number of benthic lander systems, Autosub 3, gliders, benthic trawl equipment, benthic flumes, CTD water column sampling, Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI) camera and various coring systems.