The Next 'Alvin Science Verification Expedition'

Ship

R/V Atlantis

Vehicles

HOV Alvin

Cruise Party

Samuel Soule: Chief Scientist, Principal Investigator
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Clark South 272C, MS#24 Woods Hole, Ma. USA 02543
+1 508 289 3213
ssoule@whoi.edu

Departure: San Juan, Puerto Rico on Jul 27, 2022

Arrival: Tampa, FL on Aug 19, 2022

Mobilization Date: Jul 24, 2022

Demobilization Date: Aug 20, 2022

Supporting documentation:

Operations Area: Puerto Rico Trench (18.96, -66.90) & Mid-Cayman Spreading Center (18.30, -81.64)

Lat/Lon:

Depth Range: 2000 / 6500

Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? Grand Cayman
Are visas or special travel documents required? no

Science objectives

The primary objective of the cruise is to test Alvin's science systems following overhaul and at it's new depth rating of 4500-6500m including navigation, imaging, maneuverability, and data transfer. In addition, we will test new conops for extended dive days for deep (6500m) dives. 

Additional objectives are to train new Alvin users and conduct opportunistic science.

Science Activities

Dives will be conducted in the Puerto Rico Trench and Mid-Cayman Spreading center. Biological, geological, and fluid samples will be collected on dives. At the PR Trench, dives will be conducted on methane seeps and at outcrops. At the Mid-Cayman SC, dives will be conducted at high-temperature hydrothermal vents and in volcanic terrains and on exposures of lower-crustal and ultramafic rocks at the spreading crenter and adjacent fracture zone. 

When Alvin is not diving, we will deploy/recover an autonomous full-ocean-depth CTD/lander at abyssal and hadal depths to collect water samples, imaging, and passive acoustics.

Pre-cruise planning meeting: Teleconference/Visit WHOI

I can be in-person, I might have others along who are virtual.
Media personnel on board: Video, Writer
WHOI Communications is likely to participate in the cruise (e.g., Ken Kostel or other) and we may have additional outreach personnel aboard.

Stations:

  Mid Cayman Spreading Center
  Distance: 925
  Days: 5
  Latitude: 18° 20.0’ N
  Longitude: 81° 41.0’ W

  Puerto Rico Trench
  Distance: 60
  Days: 5
  Latitude: 19° 30.0’ N
  Longitude: 66° 2.0’ W

Funding Agency: NSF #2129431

- added NSF #2129431 on May 5, 2022 4:00 PM by Samuel A. Soule

R/V Atlantis

Shipboard Equipment

A-Frame
ADCP 75 kHz
Bathymetry System 12 kHz
Bathymetry System 3.5 kHz
Crane
Deionized Water System
Fume Hood
Multibeam
Navigation - Heading
Navigation - Position
Science Underway Seawater System
Sippican XBT System (Mark 21)
Transponder Navigation - Sonardyne USBL

Shipboard Communication

Basic Internet access via HiSeasNet
Is there a need to transfer data to shore on a regular basis?
Is there an expectation to use Skype or any other real-time video conference program?

CTD/Water Sampling

911+ Rosette 24-position, 10-liter bottle Rosette with dual T/C sensors
SBE43 oxygen sensor
Seapoint STM turbidity sensor
Wet Labs C*Star transmissometer (660nm wavelength)

Critical CTD Sensors: 

MET Sensors

Air temperature
Barometric Pressure
Relative Humidity
Short Wave Solar Radiation
Wind speed and direction

Sediment Sampling

Gravity corers

Sample Storage

Freezer -70°C 25 cu. ft.
Refrigerator 8.6 cu. ft.
Scientific Walk-in Freezer
Scientific Walk-in Refrigerator


Storage Notes: -70 freezer will be needed for biological samples, Walk-in refrigerator will be needed for sediment samples, walk-in freezer may be needed if no other -20 options available.

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no

Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation for other than Alvin operations? no

Navigation

GPS
USBL

Navigation Notes: USBL will be used with Alvin.

Winches

CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire

Winch Notes: CTD winch will be needed for potential CTD deployments, Hydro winch will be needed for potential gravity coring.

Wire use and application

Other


Wire Notes: We will be deploying an autonomous CTD/lander using the stbd side crane - air weight, 3500 lbs. We may also deploy/recover an elevator using the crane.

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

Portable Vans

Chemical Storage Van

Other Science Vans:

Specialized Deck Equipment

Mooring Deployment/Recovery Equipment Required: no	Type:
Cruise Specific Science Winch Required: no	Type:
Nets Required: no	Type:

Over the Side Equipment

Will you be bringing any equipment (winches, blocks, etc.) that lowers instruments over the side? no

Special Requirements

Elecrical Power: no	Identify:
Equipment Handling: no	Identify:
Inter/intraship Communications: no	Identify:
Science Stowage: yes	Identify: We would like to load some equipment upon departure from WHOI (July)
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? yes

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes: no

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise? yes

Specialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other):  Deployment/Recovery of autonomous lander/CTD, multibeam sonar, extended Alvin dive days.

Other required equipment and special needs: 

HOV Alvin

Site Survey

Will you provide detailed charts of the work area(s)?  no
Current Chart(s):


If no, willl you need R/V Atlantis to generate maps of the work area(s)?  no

Will you need post-dive maps of the work area generated?  no

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no

Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation for other than Alvin operations? no

Vehicle Equipment

Push corers (12-pack rack)
Search sonar
Scoop nets
Niskin bottles (1L bottle rack)
Heat flow probe
CTD
Large capacity slurp samplers: single-chamber
Large capacity slurp samplers: multi-chamber
Bio collection boxes: 12 x 12 x 12
Bio collection boxes: 12 x 12 x 24
Major (dual) pair water sampler(s) with ICL temperature probles
Slurp pump: single chamber high flow
Slurp pump: 5-chamber high flow
Slurp pump: single chamber 'pelagic' medium flow
Rock collection baskets: 12" x 18" x 12" milk crates
Rock collection baskets: 12" x 12" x 12" milk crates
Tube cores: 12 core array (12" x 18" milk crate base)
Tube cores: 24" tube cores
Tube cores: 8 core array


What type of samples do you expect to collect?
We will collect a variety of samples including rocks, push cores, biological specimens, and fluid samples.

Elevators

Will you be using elevators to transport samples to the surface?  yes
If yes, how many would you anticipate?  Elevator will only be used on dives <4500m.

Science Supplied Equipment

Are you supplying equipment to be used on HOV Alvin?  yes

Has this equipment been used on Alvin before?  yes

Please give a brief description of the equipment, its intended purpose, the cruise # it was last used on if any and its deployment method.
We may utilize the bushmaster and mussel pot (as deployed on previous Cordes cruises) that are hydraulically powered. We hope to install AIS electrochemical sensors on the sub (subsequent info refers to AIS electrochemical sensors).

Does this equipment use an external pressure housing?  yes

Has the pressure housing been tested per Alvin Pressure Test requirements?  yes

Air weight of this equipment? TBD

Water weight(s) of this equipment? TBD

Does the equipment require a power interface from Alvin?  yes

Voltage required TBD

Power required TBD

Data Interface Ethernet

Does the equipment meet the electrical requirements of the Alvin User Manual?  yes

Please provide power and comms specifics, wiring diagram, pinout, and wiring harness in advance of the cruise.

Does this equipment require hydraulic inputs from Alvin?  no
Hydraulic schematic of the equipment requirements.

Does this equipment require manipulation?  no

If yes, please describe how the equipment is to be manipulated: 

Will this equipment be deployed off the vehicle?  no

If yes, please describe how the equipment is intended for deployment: 

If yes, will the equipment be disconnected from the vehicle and left in situ?  no

How long will the deployment be? 

Will the equipment be recovered by the same vehicle?  no

Do you intend to recover any other previously deployed equipment?  no

If yes, please describe this equipment: 

Does this equipment use any glass spheres, ceramic housings or similar (non-metallic materials) for either buoyancy or as pressure housings?  no

Do you require any electronic equipment in the personal sphere? yes

Has the computer or control panel been gas tested for use in the personnel sphere?  yes

Hazardous Material

Will hazardous material be utilized? no

Additional Information

Brief operations description or comments:
Dives will be focused on testing science systems, but opportunistic science and sampling will be conducted. 
Date Submitted: May 5, 2022 4:20 PM by Samuel A. Soule