Science Verification Cruise II

Ship

RV Neil Armstrong

Vehicles

Cruise Party

Reide Corbett: Principal Investigator
East Carolina University
+1 252 328 1367
corbettd@ecu.edu

Chad Smith: Chief Scientist
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 38 Water St. 3rd Floor, MS#37 Woods Hole, Ma. USA 02543
+1 508 289 3811
csmith@whoi.edu

Departure: Charleston, SC on Mar 17, 2016

Arrival: Washington, DC on Mar 27, 2016

Mobilization Date: Mar 15, 2016

Demobilization Date: Mar 28, 2016

Supporting documentation:

»FluidFlowSeeps_RuppelLiz.pdf

Operations Area: Coastal NC

Lat/Lon:

Depth Range: min / max (m)

Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? no

Science objectives

• Net Tows, Tucker Trawl (ECU)
• CTD with Laser Optical Particle Counter (LOPC) (ECU)
• ADCP (ECU)
  
• Multi, Box and Kasten Coring (ECU)
• Multibeam (ECU)
• EM122/EM710 and EK80 Survey along the Onslow Fault (USGS)
  

Science Activities

Trawl, Coring, CTD, ADCP and Multibeam
Reide Corbett - ECU
Sci Party Size: 12 People

We intend to use the vessel to collect additional off the NE North Carolina coast (seaward of Cape Hatteras) with three primary foci: 1) seafloor mapping near the shelf edge, 2) sediment and carbon transport and accumulation; and 2) Gulf Stream dynamics, energy resources and ecological implications.  J.P. Walsh and I will act as Chief Scientists for the cruise and provide the critical feedback on vessel operations needed.  Based on our previous experience and planned activities for this cruise, we will be able to provide a thorough review on a diversity of operations.  For background purposes, Walsh and I have served as Chief/Co-Chief Scientist on various research vessels including Pelican, Cape Hatteras, Roger Revelle, Kilo Moana, Laurence M. Gould, Wecoma, Thomas Thompson, Harry Messel (Australian), and Kaharoa (New Zealand).

 

Requested Information:

 

1. This cruise would involve seabed mapping (multibeam, chirp seismic), sediment collection (multicore/mega-core, Kasten core), water column characterization (CTD Rosette), equipment tows (Laser Optical Plankton Counter, net tow for plankton collection), equipment retrieval/deployment (switch benthic ADCP mooring currently deployed off Cape Hatteras), water column current evaluation (ADCP).

This cruise would be an interdisciplinary effort, linking physical, biological, chemical, and geological oceanographers interested in land/ocean interactions on varying spatial and temporal scales.  In particular, we are interested in the role of the Gulf Stream as a link between land-derived material and deep sea cycling and deposition and as a renewable resource with the environmental implications for harnessing such a resource.  The scientist listed are actively involved in research in the proposed study area.  The cruise would provide an opportunity to expand the region of study beyond the shelf edge and offers a unique opportunity for a “shake-down” cruise using multiple types of instrumentation, retrieving previously deployed moorings, and interacting effectively with scientist from multiple disciplines on a single cruise

EM122/EM710 and EK80 Survey
Carolyn Rupple - USGS
Sci Party Size: 3 People

We have identified three high-priority target areas where focused surveying by the R/V Armstrong would answer specific scientific questions being pursued by the Woods Hole scientific community, while also providing the opportunity to test the EM122/EM710 and EK80. While the Knudsen could be used to enhance any of these surveys, this would require slower ship speeds, which would significantly increase the amount of the transit consumed by these surveys. Particularly with respect to water column imaging, note that the USGS Woods Hole has been at the forefront in defining more than 550 seep sites on the US margin between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank since 2013.  In addition, the USGS has worked for more than 20 years on the Cape Fear and Blake Ridge diapirs that are almost directly offshore of Charleston.  The USGS would be pleased to provide further information about transit-over sites that would provide underway tests of the geophysical imaging (seafloor and water column) of the R/V Armstrong.

Pre-cruise planning meeting: Teleconference

Reide Corbett -ECU Carolyn Rupple - USGS

Stations:

Funding Agency: ONR/NAVY #000000000

- added ONR/NAVY #000000000 on Jan 15, 2016 2:15 PM by Chad Smith

R/V Armstrong

Shipboard Equipment

ADCP 300 kHz
ADCP 150 kHz
ADCP 75 kHz
Multibeam
EM122 (12 kHz) Multibeam Echosounder
EK80 Sonar
ADCP 38 kHz
Crane
EM710 MkII (40 to 100 kHz) Multibeam Echosounder

Shipboard Communication

Basic Internet access via HiSeasNet

CTD/Water Sampling

911+ Rosette 24-position, 10-liter bottle Rosette with dual T/C sensors

Critical CTD Sensors:  Laser Optical Particle Counter (LOPC) (Science Party Supplied)

Sediment Sampling

Box corer
Multi-core


Storage Notes:

Navigation

GPS

Navigation Notes:


Winch Notes: Winch Pool unit similar to:

• Markey DEPC-5
• 4,200 lbs. Maximum Deck Lift
• 200 meters of 0.3125 dia. wire rope
•  Measurement Technology LCI-90 line control instrumentation

Wire Notes: diameter of the cable, generally less than 1 cm (0.393) as the messenger diameter is 1 cm.

Slip ring required? no	Number of conductors:
Non-standard wire required? no	Type:
Traction winch required? no	Describe:

Other Science Vans:

Over the Side Equipment

Will you be bringing any equipment (winches, blocks, etc.) that lowers instruments over the side? yes

Details: Science Party Supplied
Tucker Trawl
Kasten Core
Multi Core

WHOI SSSG Supplied
Box Core

Special Requirements

Elecrical Power: no	Identify:
Equipment Handling: no	Identify:
Inter/intraship Communications: no	Identify:
Science Stowage: no	Identify:
Water: no	Identify:

Additional Cruise Items/Activities

Explosive Devices: no Portable Air Compressors: no Flammable Gases: no

Small Boat Operations: no SCUBA Diving Operations: no

Hazardous Material

Will hazardous material be utilized? no

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes: no

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise? yes

Specialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other):  Acoustic Tech for EK80, EM122 and EM710
Helpfull if a WHOI Coring Tech could be onboard

Other required equipment and special needs:  Laser Optical Particle Counter (LOPC) from ECU must be installed on the Armstrong's Rosette
Winch Pool must supply winch for the tucker trawl and net tows if Armstrong Trawl Winch does not meet the needs.


Date Submitted: Jan 15, 2016 2:23 PM by Chad Smith