Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Cruise Planning Synopsis


AT18-02

Ship

R/V Atlantis

Vehicles

HOV Alvin

Cruise Party

Samantha Joye: Chief Scientist, Principal Investigator
University of Georgia DEPARTMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES ATHENS, Georgia United States 30602-3636
+1 706 542 5893
mjoye@uga.edu

Departure: Nov 8, 2010

Galveston Texas

Arrival: Dec 3, 2010

Gulfport MS

Operations Area

Gulf of Mexico
Lat/Lon: 27° 43.4′ N / 90° 16.8′ W
Depth Range: 650 / 2600
Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? no
Are visas or special travel documents required? no

Science Objectives

The primary objectives of this cruise are to collect depth stratified samples of brine fluids from brine pools, brine basins, mud volcanoes, and the surrounding sediments at sites in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Secondary objectives are to map the sites, collect water column profiles above the brine habitats (via night time CTD casts), and make air-sea flux measurements of methane and carbon dioxide. 
Please note that I have requested 3 additional dives/days from the NSF to collect sediment and water columns samples in the vicinity (2.5 miles and further out) of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead.  Our objectives at these sites would be to collect water column (CTD) and sediment (ALVIN) samples at three sites and to map the seafloor around the area. 

Science Activities

Science activities include 1) Alvin dives, 2) CTD casts, 3) mapping surveys, and 4) air-sea gas exchange measurements.  
During Alvin dives, we will collect brine samples with a custom built sampling device; collect sediment push cores; photo and video the study sites; and deploy monitoring sensors and camera systems.  
Night operations will include multibeam surveys and CTD casts.  
Gas exchange measurements will be made continuously with an underway system.

Additional Info

Pre-cruise Planning Meeting: Teleconference
Media personnel on board: Video
This has not been confirmed but is likely

Stations:

  AC601
  Distance: 176
  Days: 2
  Latitude: 26° 23.3’ N
  Longitude: 94° 30.8’ W

Supporting documentation:

»Joye_Brine_Cruise_Track.pdf
Notes: Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) (SIMOPS) are still monitoring vessel movement with in 15 km of the DH well head.  

Funding

Funding Agency: NSF
Grant or contract number: EF0801741

Scientific Instrumentation for R/V Atlantis

Shipboard Equipment

Bathymetry System 12 kHz
Multibeam
Science Underway Seawater System
Deionized Water System
Fume Hood
12 kHz Pinger for Wire Use
Transponder Navigation - Sonardyne USBL
Relay Transponder for Wire Use
Navigation - Heading
Navigation - Position

CTD/Water Sampling

Seapoint STM turbidity sensor
911+ Rosette 24-position, 10-liter bottle Rosette with dual T/C sensors
SBE43 oxygen sensor
Wet Labs ECO-AFL fluorometer
Wet Labs C*Star transmissometer (660nm wavelength)
Biospherical underwater PAR (1000m depth limit) with reference Surface PAR

Critical CTD Sensors

WET Labs ECO CDOM fluorometer

MET Sensors

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

Sediment Sampling

Box corer
Gravity corers
Multi-core

Sample Storage

Freezer -70°C 25 cu. ft.
Scientific Walk-in Freezer
Climate Controlled Walk-in
Refrigerator 8.6 cu. ft.
Freezer -70°C 3.2 cu. ft. ea.
Storage Notes: We will be bringing a refrigerator and freezer for sample storage; these will be secured on deck.  We will need a refrigerator in each lab and two -80 freezers (in total).

Navigation

Will you be using Long Base Line (LBL) navigation? no
How many nets? 0
How many tansponders? 0
Will you be using Ultra-short baseline (USBL) navigation?no

Winches

Trawl Winch with 9/16th trawl wire
CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire
Winch Notes: 9/16th trawl wire for coring ops.

Standard Oceanographic Cables

Slip ring required? no
Non-standard wire required? no
Traction winch required? no

Portable Vans

Isotope Van

Specialized Deck Equipment

Mooring Deployment/Recovery Equipment Required: yes Type: Elevators (3 total )
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: yes Identify to the radioisotope van
Equipment Handling: no Identify: 
Inter/intraship Communications: no Identify: 
Science Stowage: no Identify: 
Water: yes Identify: to the radioisotope van

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
Describe deployment method and quantity:
Hazardous materials will be used inside the lab areas; radioisotope will be used only in the isotope van. 
Hazmat information (MSDS) will be uploaded by the members of the science party. 

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes:yes

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise?yes
Specialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other):
Standard multibeam and CTD ops; computer support will also be needed.
Other required equipment and special needs:
The UCSW system will have to be carefully monitored throught the cruise.  SSSG and Science should continually sample water to determine if the flow through system may become compromised with oil residue still below the surface.

Scientific Instrumentation for HOV Alvin

Site Survey

Navigation

Elevators

Science Supplied Equipment

Hazardous Material

Additional Information

Checklist & Notes

Checklist

U.S. Customs Form: yes
Diplomatic Clearance: no
Date Submitted: Jan 13, 2010
Date Approved: Feb 3, 2010
Agent Information:
Countries:
Notes:
Isotope Use Approval: no
Isotope Notes:
SCUBA Diving: no

Checklist

SSSG Tech: