Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Cruise Planning Synopsis


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2022 DFO Maritimes an Newfoundland AZMP

Ship

R/V Atlantis

Cruise Party

Lindsay Beazley: Principal Investigator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1 Challenger Drive DARTMOUTH, NS Canada B2Y 4A2
+1 902 225 3743
Lindsay.Beazley@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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

Marc Ringuette: Principal Investigator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1 Challenger Drive DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
+1 902 229 4902
Marc.Ringuette@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Steve Snook: Principal Investigator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 80 East White Hills Rd St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada A1A 5J7
+1 709 772 4581
Stephen.Snook@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Departure: Mar 16, 2022

WHOI

Arrival: Mar 17, 2022

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Operations Area

Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf and Slope, Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf and Slope, Labrador Sea
Lat/Lon:
Depth Range: 33 / 4660
Will the vessel be operating within 200 NM of a foreign country? Greenland, France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon)
Are visas or special travel documents required? no

Science Objectives

This mission involves the collection of physical, biological and chemical oceanographic data onboard oceanographic surveys conducted in 3 different geographic regions: Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf and Slope (Maritimes Region AZMP, AZOMP), Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf (Newfoundland and Labrador Region AZMP), and in the Labrador Sea from the Labrador Shelf, Canada to Cape Desolation on the Greenland shelf (AZOMP). Through the collection of an array of physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic data, this mission aims to:

  1. Characterize and understand the causes of oceanic variability at the seasonal, inter-annual and decadal scales across the northwest Atlantic.
  2. Provide multidisciplinary datasets that can be used to establish relationships among biological, chemical and physical oceanographic variables.
  3. Provide quality data for the validation of oceanographic model outputs and calibration of remote-sensed observations from gliders, Argo floats, and satellite imagery.
  4. Provide quality data to support sound decision-making on key government priorities such as climate change, marine protected areas, species at risk and fisheries resource management.
  5. Recover and re-deploy oceanographic moorings placed in areas to study ocean properties along with movements of marine mammals (NL AZMP).
  6. Recover oceanographic moorings located at 53 degrees North in support of the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP), an international effort involving both DFO and WHOI scientists to quantify the subpolar AMOC and its intra-seasonal to inter-annual variability via overturning metrics, including associated fluxes of heat and freshwater (AZOMP).

Science Activities

This field work involves the deployment of various tethered and non-tethered oceanographic equipment for the collection of physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic data. Specific objectives of the field work that will be conducted on each of the 3 legs of this mission includes:

Leg 1 – MAR AZMP: Embark: Halifax, Nova Scotia. Disembark: Sydney, Nova Scotia

1)      CTD/Rosette deployments for the collection of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (chlorophyll), colored dissolved organic matter fluorescence (CDOM), turbidity, pH, and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Surface PAR will also be collected.

Water samples will be collected at standard depths for measurements of nutrients, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, carbonate chemistry (total alkalinity, total inorganic carbon, pCO2, pH), particulate organic carbon/nitrogen and HPLC. 

2)      Vertical ring net tows for the collection of zooplankton samples

3)      2 Argo float deployments

4)      Use of the vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) for measurement of ocean currents

5)      Collection of continuous surface TSG and carbonate chemistry (pH, total alkalinity, pCO2) measurements using the ship’s underway system, including phytoplankton imaging with a IFCB provided by WHOI

6)      Use of the vessel’s multibeam system

 

Leg 2 – NL AZMP: Embark: St. John’s, Newfoundland. Disembark:  St. John’s, Newfoundland

1)      CTD/Rosette deployments for the collection of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (chlorophyll), colored dissolved organic matter fluorescence (CDOM), turbidity, pH, and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Surface PAR will also be collected.

Water samples will be collected at standard depths for measurements of nutrients, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, carbonate chemistry (total alkalinity, total inorganic carbon, pCO2, pH), particulate organic carbon/nitrogen and HPLC.

2)      Vertical ring net tows for the collection of zooplankton samples

3)      3 Argo float deployments

4)      Use of the vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) for measurement of ocean currents

5)      Collection of continuous surface TSG and carbonate chemistry (pH, total alkalinity, pCO2) measurements using the ship’s underway system, including phytoplankton imaging with a IFCB provided by WHOI.

6)      Use of the vessel’s multibeam system

7)      4 mooring recoveries (including 1 drag)

8)      3 mooring deployments

9)      Recovery (drag) of a lost CTD/Rosette

10)   1 oceanographic Viking Buoy deployment

11)   15 surface drifter deployments

12) Deployment of XBT probes for the collection of temperature-depth profiles along repositioning lines


Leg 3 – AZOMP: Embark: St. John’s, Newfoundland. Disembark: Halifax, Nova Scotia

1)      CTD/Rosette deployments for the collection of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence (chlorophyll), colored dissolved organic matter fluorescence (CDOM), turbidity, pH, and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Surface PAR will also be collected.

Water samples will be collected at standard depths for measurements of nutrients, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, carbonate chemistry (total alkalinity, total inorganic carbon, pCO2, pH), particulate organic carbon/nitrogen and HPLC. Water samples will also be collected for the analysis of transient gases for water mass and tracer for the determination for ventilation and carbon sequestration studies.

2)      Collection of current velocities using CTD-mounted LADCP

3)      Vertical ring net tows for the collection of zooplankton samples

4)      12 Argo float deployments

5)      Use of the vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) for measurement of ocean currents

6)      Collection of continuous surface TSG and carbonate chemistry (pH, total alkalinity, pCO2) measurements using the ship’s underway system, including phytoplankton imaging with a IFCB provided by WHOI

7)      Use of the vessel’s multibeam system

8)      Deployment of XBT probes for the collection of temperature-depth profiles along repositioning lines

9)      7 mooring recoveries

10)   6 mooring deployments

11)   Attempted recovery of C3 releaser and floats in Labrador Sea

On all 3 legs, observations of seabird and marine mammal distributions may be collected as part of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s seabird observation program.

Additional Info

Pre-cruise Planning Meeting: Teleconference

Stations:

Supporting documentation:

»MaritimesAZMP_Leg_1_List_of_Stations.csv
»NLAZMP_Leg_2_List_of_Stations.csv
»AZMP-STA27_VikingBuoy.pdf
»AZOMP_Leg3_StnList.xlsx
»LC_AOI_02_04.pdf
»LC_AOI_01_05.pdf
»MMNL082.pdf
»AZOMP_Leg3_MooringsDiagrams.7z

Funding

Funding Agency: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Grant or contract number: TBD

Scientific Instrumentation for R/V Atlantis

Other Science Vans:

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
12 kHz Pinger for Wire Use

Shipboard Communication

Basic Internet access via HiSeasNet
Is there a need to receive data from shore on a regular basis?

CTD/Water Sampling

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

Critical CTD Sensors

CTD-Related Equipment

Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (LADCP)

MET Sensors

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

Sample Storage

Freezer -70°C 25 cu. ft.
Freezer -70°C 3.2 cu. ft. ea.
Refrigerator 8.6 cu. ft.
Scientific Walk-in Freezer
Scientific Walk-in Refrigerator
Storage Notes: We require 3 ultra-cold (-70) and -20 freezer space for sample storage, as well as ample refrigeration space. Use of the ship's deionized water system will be required for the production of ~400 litres of deionized water. The ship's nitrogen system will also be used for the production of liquid nitrogen, that will be used to top up several liquid nitrogen dewars at regular intervals.

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 require access to NMEA data throughout the mission. Are these data available as a string through ethernet, or serial cable (RS232 or RS422/485)? The NMEA string is fed into our Event Logger (E-LOG), and is also required by our TSG logging computer (if applicable), XBT system and mooring deployments. The NMEA string should have GPS position, time and sounder (sddbk/sddbt/sddpt, GPZDA and GPGGA). Does the vessel have computers situated in work areas that contain navigational software where we can track ship's position and time to next station?

Winches

CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire
Mooring / TSE winch
Winch Notes: Note that a request for a winch and block for the deployment and retrieval of moorings has been submitted through the UNOLS East Coast Winch Pool.

Wire use and application

CTD Winch with .322" Electro-mechanical wire
Hydro Winch with .25" hydro wire
Other
Winch Notes: For Legs 1 and 3, vertical ring net tows will be conducted using the hydro winch with 0.25 inch hydrowire. This system consists of a 4 m net with 0.75 m opening and 202 micron mesh that is affixed to the hydrowire using a custom crossbow system. There is a bookend clamp that is used to affix the cod end to the net so that it maintains a vertical structure during ascent and descent, and a 25 kg weight is added to the bottom of the system (total system weight in air is ~50 kg). The net is vertically towed from the surface to near-bottom or 1000 m, whichever is shallower. Therefore, at least ~1200 m of wire is required. An image or video of the system can be provided upon request.

For Leg 2 (NL AZMP) uses a dual-202 micron net system that does not utilize a crossbow system. This setup uses a custom dual frame with single pickup point in the middle of both nets, and a weight is attached to the bottom of the frame to keep the nets in a vertical orientation.

For Leg 3, an Hydrobios Multinet Sampler of 0.25m2 with 200 micron mesh net will be deployed. The instrument weighes ~150 kg and and is 7 m in height. The instrument is deployed vertically down to 1000 m ideally using an EM cable. During a previous mission on the Atlantis this instrument was lowered over the side of the vessel using the aft-crane and was then connected to the CTD/Rosette cable for its operation in the water.




Standard Oceanographic Cables

Slip ring required? no
Non-standard wire required? no
Traction winch required? no
Science Van 1
Type/size: RAD van Location:
Water: Power:

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 have made the request for a TSE winch and block through the UNOLS East Coast Winch Pool to conduct mooring operations (deployment and retrieval) from the R/V Atlantis A-frame.

NL AZMP leg 2 requires a buoy to be deployed using the aft-mounted A-frame.
Drifters will be deployed over the side of the vessel, starboard or port, and can freefall into the water from deck height, similarly to the Argo floats.

Special Requirements

Elecrical Power: yes Identify If loaded, specialized mooring container workspace specs are: 480v, 3 phase 4 conductor 60 amp
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:
Hazardous materials will not be used outside laboratory spaces.

Radioactive Material

Radioiosotopes:no

Additional Information

Is night time work anticipated on this cruise?yesSpecialized tech support (Seabeam, coring, other):
We will conduct 24 hour operations, with 2 x 12 hour shifts from 6 - 6 (MAR AZMP Leg 1 and AZOMP Leg 3) and 12 - 12 (NL AZMP Leg 2). This could be adjusted to accommodate meal times or other ship operations. Primary operations for the majority of the mission will consist of CTD/Rosette deployment, vertical ring net tows, and Multinet tows. 

The deployment of 17 Argo floats will occur during the mission. These are normally done off the stern of the vessel, and may require assistance from the ship's tech on duty. A rope is normally used to gently lower the float over the side of the vessel, where it is then let go once it touches the surface.


Other required equipment and special needs:
  • Use of the ship's 300 KHz ADCP is also requested.
  • While in the Gully Marine Protected Area, the vessel is requested to maintain distance gaps and speeds less than 10 knots, in compliance with Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/SOR-93-56.pdf (see section 38) 
  • A IFCB flowcam will be provided by a WHOI scientist. This will have to be plumbed into the existing underway system.
  • Additional science container(s) may be loaded in Halifax, NS, depending on the location and placement of the UNOLS RadVan.

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: