Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Cruise Planning Synopsis


AR44-01: Hebert "AZMP Spring 2020"

Ship

RV Neil Armstrong

Cruise Party

Andrew Cogswell: Principal Investigator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1 Challenger Drive P.O. BOX 1006 Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3S 1G5
+1 902 441 3805
andrew.cogswell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Dave Hebert: Principal Investigator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canada
+1 902 426 1216
david.hebert@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Chantelle Layton: Chief Scientist
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canada
+1 902 229 2191
chantelle.layton@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Dennis McGillicuddy: Principal Investigator
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Bigelow 209A, MS#11 Woods Hole, Ma. USA 02543
+1 508 289 2683
mcgillic@whoi.edu

Departure: Mar 20, 2020

WHOI

Arrival: Apr 9, 2020

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Operations Area

Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf and Slope and Cabot Strait
Lat/Lon:
Depth Range: 33 / 3700
Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? no

Science Objectives

Objectives

To date there are 15 defined objectives:

Primary

  1. Obtain spring observations of the hydrography and distribution of nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton at standard sampling stations along Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program sections within the Maritimes Region (Contact Mr. Andrew Cogswell - http://www.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/isdm-gdsi/azmp-pmza/index-eng.html).

Additional

  1. Nutrients and hydrography across the Northeast Channel and Gulf of Maine as part of NERACOOS Cooperative Agreement, (Contact Dr. Dave Hebert - http://www.neracoos.org/).
  2. Carry out hydrographic, chemical and biological sampling at stations in the Gully in support of Gully MPA monitoring initiatives by Oceans and Coastal Management Division (Contact Dr. Dave Hebert - https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/mpa-zpm/gully/index-eng.html). 
  3. Deploy 2 ARGO floats in support of the International Argo Float Program (Contact Dr. Ingrid Peterson - http://www.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/isdm-gdsi/argo/index-eng.html). 
  4. Collect underway and CTD water samples at specified locations and depths to fulfil the regional component of an Aquatic Climate Change Adaptation Services Program (ACCASP) initiative investigating the delineation of ocean acidification and calcium carbonate saturation state of the Atlantic zone (Contact Dr. Kumiko Azetsu-Scott - http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/oceanography-oceanographie/accasp-psaccma/index-eng.html ).
  5. Collect water samples for the Bertrand lab at Dalhousie University to evaluate whether and how organic and organometallic micronutrients influence primary productivity and phytoplankton community structure on the Scotian Shelf (Contact Dr. Erin Bertrand – https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/biology/faculty-staff/our-faculty/erin-bertrand.html ).
  6. Collect water samples from strategic locations and depths to support a microbial community analysis via DNA, RNA and flow cytometry, as well as the isolation of novel diazotrophs (Contact Dr. Julie Laroche - http://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/biology/faculty-staff/our-faculty/julie-laroche.html ).
  7. Bird and mammal observations as part of ECCC-CWS (Environment and Climate Change Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service) sea-bird observation program and in fulfilment of Gully and St. Anns Bank MPA occupation requirements (Contact Carina Gjerdrum – carina.gjerdrum@canada.ca).
  8. Carry out hydrographic, chemical and biological sampling at stations in the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area as a continued monitoring effort in support of Oceans and Coastal Management Division (Contact Dr. Dave Hebert - http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/mpa-zpm/stanns-sainteanne/index-eng.html). 
  9. Conduct hydrographic, chemical and biological sampling across the mouth of the Laurentian Channel. This transect has been implemented to enhance our understanding of hydrographic phenomenon in support of current modelling efforts (Contact Dr. Dave Brickman).
  10. Deploy 3 Autonomous Multichannel Acoustic Recorders (AMAR) in support of Oceans Protection Plan, National Conservation Plan and Species at Risk funded projects investigating ambient and anthropogenic noise, and the occurrence of North Atlantic right whales and other cetacean species on the Scotian Shelf (Contact Dr. Hilary Moors-Murphy - https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/en/profile/hilary-moors-murphy).
  11. Recover and deploy 1 deep oceanographic mooring near HL_08 on the Halifax Line (Contact Dr. Igor Yashayeav).
  12. Collect data and samples from a continuous sampling Flow Cytobot to enumerate and categorize phytoplankton throughout the duration of the mission (Contact Dr. Michael Brosnahan).
  13. Collection of multibeam and sub-bottom data from a specified track within and in proximity to a conservation Area of Interest (AOI) around the Northeast Channel in the Gulf of Maine.  This work is being done in partnership between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Oceans and Coastal Management Division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support DFO's marine spatial planning objectives.  Seabed geoscience data will help identify unique, sensitive or unstable seabed conditions; knowing the presence/distribution will help inform furture DFO decisions on seabed use and/or protection (Contact Mr. Derek Fenton).

  14. Collection of multibeam data within a specified area of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS).  This investigation fills research needs for Sanctuary maangement, including up to date modelling of historic shipwreck sites, biological investigations of shipwreck and natural hard-bottom sites, and the effects of fishing gear and marine debris (Contact Dr. Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser, WHOI).

Science Activities

The science activities can be broken into 6 broad categories:

1. AZMP nominal station occupations.  These include full water column CTD profiles and niskin bottles at nominal depths for a suite of shipboard and land based laboratory analysis (nutrients (nitrate, silicate, phosphate, nitrate, ammonia), pigments (HPLC and fluorometer), salinity, oxygen, total inorganic carbon, pCO2, and water for student projects noted in the objectives section, etc...).  As well, each occupation also involves deployment of a vertical plankton net tow (0.75 m diameter and 202µm mesh with specialized cod end).  The net is affixed to a hydrocable using a "crossbow" to hold the net away from the cable, and another "book end clamp" at the cod end to keep the net from collapsing and upright upon ascent and descent.  For either the CTD or the nets, our program is generally more interested at maintaining a straight cable angle than using DP to maintain a tight watch circle around the station.

2. Argo floats will be deployed at 2 stations throughout the mission at our deepest stations (HL_08 and LL_09).  The floats can be deployed by hand from the rail while the ship is underway at 0.5-1kt. Our staff will work with the bridge to manage these deployments.

3. We will likely bring our own underway system that consists of a TSG, optode, WetLab fluorometer, SeaPoint UV (CDOM), pH and ProOceanus pCO2.  As well, we will integrate a Flow Cytobot into the underway seawater sampling system.  We'll work with RV Armstrong Technicians in advance of sailing to install our systems and data loggers prior to sailing.

4.We will deploy acoustic moorings at 3 locations throughout the mission and exchange 1 oceanographic mooring at a deep station on the Halifax Line (near HL_08).  These mooring deployments will be lead by our mooring team (Jay Barthelotte and Matt Lawson).  Mooring diagrams will be provided prior to sailing and Jay and Matt will work with the Captain and crew prior to operations review standard operating procedures.

5. A bird and mammal observer will be posted to the bridge to collect data throughout the mission on a laptop computer.  They'll generally work from sun up to sun down during transits and will be on break while the ship is stationary or in poor weather conditions (fog or extreme waves).

6. Multibeam surveys, within a defined area of the SBNMS led by WHOI and another survey within the bounds of an Area of conservation Interest in the Northeast Channel.


Finally, we'd like to use the Elog data meta data management software throughout the mission.  Our data manager we'll need to meet with the ship's technicians prior to sailing to confirm the data locations on the server and the integration of our computers to the ship's network.

Additional Info

Pre-cruise Planning Meeting: Teleconference

Stations:

Supporting documentation:

»ProposedCTDConfig_spring2020.xlsx
»2054_XHL_RS5_Rev_A2.pdf
»2094_Cetacean_OPP_MEQ_-_Grand_Manan_Basin_Mar_2020_Rev_A2.pdf
»2133_HL8_RS5_Scotian_Slope_Mar_2020_Rev_A1.pdf
»2135_Cetacean_-_VLA_-_Roseway_Basin_Mar_2020_Rev_A1.pdf
»2136_Cetacean_-_M20_-_Cabot_Strait_Mar_2020_Rev_A1.pdf
»AR_SciBerths_AR44-01.pdf
»Waypoints_Excel_Form_AR44-01.xlsx
»AZMPSpring_2020_config_08_200129_1213_timing.csv
»AZMPSpring_2020_missionmap.html
»RV_Neil_Armstrong_2020_Hazardous_Material_Inventory_1of2.pdf
»RV_Neil_Armstrong_2020_Hazardous_Material_Inventory_2of2.pdf
Notes: Deck plan attached Feb 26 - eb. 

Funding

Funding Agency: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Grant or contract number: funding provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Funding Agency: DFO
Grant or contract number:

Scientific Instrumentation for R/V Armstrong

Other Science Vans:

Shipboard Equipment

Bathymetry System 12 kHz
ADCP 300 kHz
Sippican XBT System (Mark 21)
Bathymetry System 3.5 kHz
ADCP 150 kHz
A-Frame
Deionized Water System
Science Underway Seawater System
Fume Hood
EM122 (12 kHz) Multibeam Echosounder
EK80 Sonar
Dynamic Positioning System
K-Synch System
ADCP 38 kHz
Crane
EM710 MkII (40 to 100 kHz) Multibeam Echosounder
Shipboard Equipment Notes: We'd like to log the sub-bottom data from the knudson and multibeam throughout the mission.  The Sippican XBT system would be used for sound velocity profiles.  NRCan will provide the XBT's.  There will be a full 4 days dedicated to a Multi-beam transect near the Northeast Channel during the mission that will require 24 hour monitoring of multibeam and sub-bottom systems by NRCan staff.

Shipboard Communication

Basic Internet access via HiSeasNet
Is there a need to receive data from shore on a regular basis?
Shipboard Communication Notes: Other than some shore side data acquired for regular accurate weather predictions via Zygrib, our data usage needs will be limited to basic internet access.

CTD/Water Sampling

SBE43 oxygen sensor
911+ Rosette 24-position, 10-liter bottle Rosette with dual T/C sensors
Wet Labs FLNTURTD Combination Flourometer and Turbidity Sensor

Critical CTD Sensors

Please refer to supplementary documents for propsed configuration.

MET Sensors

Barometric Pressure
Air temperature
Precipitation
Relative Humidity
Wind speed and direction

Sample Storage

Freezer -70°C 25 cu. ft.
Scientific Walk-in Freezer
Scientific Walk-in Refrigerator
Storage Notes:

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no
How many nets? null
How many tansponders? null
Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation?no

Navigation

GPS
Navigation Notes: We'll need access to NMEA data throughout the mission when we log data into e-log.  Are these data available as a string through ethernet or just through a serial cable?

The NMEA messages we are looking for are position, time and sounder (sddbk/sddbt/sddpt, GPZDA and GPGGA.  If possible we'd like to have the ship's track provided or available at regular intervals.  Our bird/mammal observers on the bridge and our underway system will need access to these GPS data as well.

Winches

UNOLS Winch Pool
Winch Notes: A request for the TSE mooring winch has been submitted for the dates of the mission

Wire use and application

CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Winch Notes: The vertical net tows (.75 m and 202µm mesh net with cod end) uses a "cross bow" affixed to the 1/4" hydro wire (or less) and a book end clamp affixed to the cod end to maintain its structure during ascent and descent.  This will be done prior to the CTD at each station to collect zooplankton samples.  A weight (~100lbs) affixed to the bottom of the cable via a shackle.  The depth of deployment is either bottom or 1000 m, whatever comes first.  An image or video of the system can be provided upon request.

Standard Oceanographic Cables

Slip ring required? no
Non-standard wire required? no
Traction winch required? no
Science Van 1
Type/size: 20ft standard container Location: aft (starboard or port)
Water: No Power:480v 3 phase with standard 4 conductor, 60 amp plug
Science Van 2
Type/size: 20 ft Location: port
Water: NA Power:NA
Science Van 3
Type/size: 20ft Location: port (stacked empty)
Water: NA Power:NA

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? yes Details: We are planning on bringing a TSE winch from the UNOLS pool for mooring work through the RV Armstrong A-frame but we are not clear whether the RV Armstrong will provide the necessary block, or will we be required to provide it?  We have some blocks that could work if the Armstrong cannot provide it.

Special Requirements

Elecrical Power: yes Identify For specialize mooring container workspace 480v 3 phase 4 conductor 60 amp plug
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?yesDescribe deployment method and quantity:

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes:no

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise?yesSpecialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other):
We will work 2 x 12 hour shifts from 7 am to 7 pm (but could be adjusted to accomodate meal times or other ship operations).  Primary operations for the majority of the mission will be CTDs and vertical net tows.  For 4 days early in the mission we'll be conducting multibeam and sub-bottom profile transects.  As well, there will be 4 mooring deployments and one recovery over the duration of the mission. Deployments "could" occur during evening hour depending on arrival times but the single planned recovery will happen through the day.Other required equipment and special needs:


Checklist & Notes

Checklist

U.S. Customs Form: no
Diplomatic Clearance: no
Date Submitted:
Date Approved:
Agent Information:
Countries:
Notes:
Isotope Use Approval: no
Isotope Notes:
SCUBA Diving: no

Checklist

SSSG Tech: