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EUROFLEETS-2 Cruise Summary Report
PREPARED
Present and past flow regime
On contourite drifts west of Spitsbergen
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191,
05/06/2014 – 15/06/2014, Tromsø – Tromsø (Norway)
Lucchi R.G., Kovacevic V., Aliani S., Caburlotto A., Celussi M., Corgnati L., Cosoli S.
Deponte D., Ersdal E.A., Fredriksson S., Goszczko I., Husum K., Ingrosso G., Laberg
J.S., Lacka M., Langone L., Mansutti P., Mezgec K., Morigi C., Ponomarenko E.
Realdon G., Relitti F., Robijn A., Skogseth R., Tirelli V.
June 2014
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
1
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. Summary .................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Research programme/objectives ................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Research scientific background and objectives .................................................................. 4
2.1.1 General scientific background .................................................................................. 4
2.1.2 Specific aims of the project ...................................................................................... 7
2.1 Cruise research program to accomplish specific objectives ............................................... 8
3. Narrative of the cruise ............................................................................................................... 9
4. Data collection ......................................................................................................................... 14
4.1 Underway measurements .................................................................................................. 14
4.1.1 Temperature and salinity from thermosalinograph ................................................ 14
Preliminary results ................................................................................................... 15
4.1.2 Hull mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) .................................... 16
Post processing ......................................................................................................... 18
Preliminary results ................................................................................................... 18
4.1.3 Meteorology ........................................................................................................... 20
The synoptic situation ............................................................................................... 20
Observations from the R/V G.O. Sars ...................................................................... 21
4.2 Conductivity, Temperature and Depth measurements (CTD) .......................................... 23
4.3 Water sampling ................................................................................................................. 32
4.3.1 Water column sampling (Rosette and WP2 net) ....................................................... 32
Preliminary results ................................................................................................... 34
4.3.2 Zooplankton sampling in surface water (Manta net) ................................................ 37
4.4 Moorings’ configuration and deployment ........................................................................ 38
4.4.1 Instruments’ specifications ....................................................................................... 38
Beacon XEOS KILO ................................................................................................. 38
Releaser .................................................................................................................... 38
Currentmeters ........................................................................................................... 42
Conductivity and Temperature sensors .................................................................... 43
Sediment trap ............................................................................................................ 44
Rigging ..................................................................................................................... 45
4.4.2 Moorings’ deployment .............................................................................................. 46
Triangulation and echosounder check ..................................................................... 46
4.5 Acoustic survey ................................................................................................................ 48
4.5.1 Bellsund Drift ........................................................................................................... 48
4.5.2 Isfjorden Drift ........................................................................................................... 49
4.6 Bottom Sampling .............................................................................................................. 50
4.6.1 Box cores .................................................................................................................. 50
Preliminary investigation of sediments .................................................................... 50
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
2
Box core sub-sampling procedure ............................................................................ 57
4.6.2 Calypso piston cores ................................................................................................. 57
Sediment description and shear strength analyses ................................................... 58
Micropaleontological investigation ......................................................................... 60
Preliminary core correlation and stratigraphy ........................................................ 63
5. Data and sample storage / availability ..................................................................................... 65
6. Cruise participants ................................................................................................................... 68
7. Station list ................................................................................................................................ 70
8. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 72
9. References ............................................................................................................................... 73
Appendixes
Appendix A: CTD and CTD/Rosette sites location map ..................................................... 76
Appendix B: WP2-plankton net location map ..................................................................... 77
Appendix C: Manta-net location map .................................................................................. 78
Appendix D: Moorings location map ................................................................................... 79
Appendix E: Box core location map .................................................................................... 80
Appendix F: Calypso piston cores location map .................................................................. 81
Appendix G: R/V G.O. SARS, survey 2014109 .................................................................. 82
Appendix H: The Prepared and Polar Plastics cruise face book .......................................... 88
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
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1. SUMMARY
(R.G. Lucchi and V. Kovacevic)
The Eurofleets-2 PREPARED cruise was conducted during June 5–15, 2014 on board the
Norwegian R/V G.O. Sars to investigate the present and past oceanographic flow regime and
patterns around two contourite drifts located in the eastern side of the Fram Strait (south-western
margin of Spitsbergen). To achieve the main objective of the project, we plan to use a full range
of time scaled measurements, from instantaneous (CTD) and seasonal (moorings) oceanographic
measurements, to the recent (Box corer) and geologic (Calypso core) past record.
Good weather and calm sea conditions allowed to fulfil the cruise program and to obtain a
high-quality and valuable dataset including: about 2780 km of underway measurements (hull-
mounted ADCP and thermosalinograph); 60 CTD sites along 5 main transects; 22 sites for water
sampling at different depths for biogeochemical characterization of water masses; 13 meso-
zooplankton samplings carried out by vertical hauls (WP2 net) and 20 by horizontal hauls
(Manta net) for the study of the present biological productivity of the area; about 120 km of site
survey including high-resolution multibeam map and sub-bottom profiles for the identification of
current-related structures; 5 Box cores; and 2 Calypso piston cores 19.67 and 17.37 m long with
an excellent sediment recovery up to 92%. In addition, 3 moorings were deployed for seasonal
measurements of water currents direction and velocity, water mass temperature and salinity and
to determine the annual amount of local sediment input.
Preliminary onboard analyses outlined the presence of a cold-oxygenated and low salinity
water mass moving in the deep northern part of the Storfjorden Trough under the effect of the
Corilis force and tide configuration considerably affecting the velocity and bottom distribution of
the cold water mass. The long Calypso cores contain the record of the past 20 ka with an
expanded Holocene sequence (over 5 m-thick) that will allow us to obtain very-high resolution
palaeoceanographic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions in the area.
Eurofleets-2 PREPARED and Polar Plastics Scientific Party
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
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2. RESEARCH PROGRAMME AND OBJECTIVES
(R.G. Lucchi and V. Kovacevic)
2.1 Research scientific background and objectives
2.1.1 General scientific background
The study of contourite drifts is useful for the reconstruction of the oceanographic and climate
history of continental margins since these sedimentary deposits typically form along the
pathways of major bottom currents (Laberg et al., 2005; Rebesco et al., 2008). Contourite drifts
are characterized by relatively high and continuous accumulation rates in contrast to adjacent
condensed pelagic sequences generating expanded sedimentary sequences suitable for high-
resolution detailed palaeo-reconstructions (Knutz, 2008). Contourite drifts are well known
throughout the world oceans, occurring anywhere from the abyssal floor to outer shelf settings,
and particularly along the continental slope where bottom currents are confined by the Coriolis
effect (Faugères and Stow, 2008).
The Fram Strait in the north polar area is the only deep-sea open gate through which water
masses are exchanged between the Nord Atlantic and Arctic Oceans (Fig. 2.1). Warm Atlantic
waters forming the West
Spitsbergen Current (WSC) are
advected northward across the
eastern side of the Fram Strait.
The warm WSC is responsible
for almost ice-free conditions
in the west and north Svalbard
area during winter, exerting a
strong control on Arctic
climate (IPCC, 2007). At the
same time, cold Arctic waters
(East Greenland Current, Fig.
2.1) descend southward across
the western side of the Fram
Strait contributing to the
maintenance of the Greenland
ice cap.
It is of climatologic interest to know how these flows changed during geological time scales
particularly for the WSC representing the only heat flow conveyed to the Arctic area. According
to Eiken and Hinz (1993) bottom currents influenced the sedimentation in the Fram Strait area
since the Late Miocene. Their study based on contourites identification through multichannel
seismic profiles correlated to DSDP drilling site 344, was confirmed by the recent work of
Amundsen et al. (2011) and Sarkar et al. (2011) who identified mounded seismic patterns in the
Early Pleistocene sediments off Bellsund Fan and Vestnesa Ridge both attributed to contour
currents related sedimentation. Two contourite drifts were identified on the seismic profiles
Figure 2.1: Location Map. A) Bathymetry of the region showing
the main currents. The dashed square indicates the study area
(figure shown in the work program). B) Location of A) within the
Arctic Ocean (from Jakobsson et al., 2012).
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
5
collected along the western continental margin of the Svalbard Archipelago between 76-78°N,
north of the Storfjorden glacial trough (Figs. 2.2, 2.3, Rebesco et al., 2013). The Holocene
deposition in the area consists of crudely layered and heavily bioturbated sediments having
structural and textural characteristics indicating currents shear sediment transport in nutrient and
oxygen-rich depositional environments (Lucchi et al., 2013). The flow structure and water
masses properties in the Fram Strait were determined through hydrographic sections and 13-
years long time series measurements of current’s velocity, temperature and salinity obtained
from a mooring array maintained since 1997 (Fahrbach et al., 2001). The flow regime is highly
fluctuating on a sub-annual time scale (c.f. Jonsson et al., 1992; Teigen et al., 2011), but fairly
constant in yearly averages. The velocity structure is strongly barotropic from top to the bottom
of the water column and the flow is mostly northwards along the entire eastern Fram Strait slope
(Beszczynska-Möller et al., 2012).
The vertical flow velocity profile
contains two main velocity
maxima: one located at sea surface
with speed averages over 20 cm/s
representing the core of the WSC;
and an other located at ca. 1500 m
(the depth of the contourite drifts,
Fig. 2.2) representing the core of
the Norwegian Deep Sea Water
(NSDW). The NSDW is a cold (<-
0.9°C) and slightly more saline
(>34.91) current (Aagaard et al.,
1985; Rudels et al., 2000;
Langehaug and Falck, 2012),
which velocity measured in the
mooring located at 10 m above
seabed has average values of
8.5±0.2 cm/s with seasonal
intensification of the flow (up to 30
cm/s) observed at late winter/early
spring. Minor flow’s velocities
were recorded at two adjacent
moorings located up- and down-
slope having near-bottom mean
velocities of 5.6±0.2 and 4.2±0.2
cm/s respectively. The enhanced
flow velocity and water mass
stratification at the depth of the
drifts were associated to inflow of
dense, cold and saline shelf waters
Figure 2.2: Schematic figure indicating the hypothetic
relationship between the long-term West Spitsbergen Current
(WSC) regime and the sub-bottom sediment geometry (after
Rebesco et al., 2013). The current regime (coloured patterns)
is freely redrawn on the basis of the long-term mean current
velocity measured at a moored array located at about
78°50’N (modified from Beszczynska-Möller et al, 2012),
while the sediment geometry is taken from a multichannel
seismic profile (EG_01A) crossing the Isfjorden Drift south of
77°30’N. The oceanographic and geological cross sections
are therefore not coincident on the same transect. The vertical
scale of the seismic profile has been converted in depth using
the conventional 1500 m/s sound velocity in water. This
conceptual diagram helps to portray the mechanism of
sediment accumulation in contour current drifts: sediments
deposit beneath the local maximum of the northward flowing
Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW) episodically fed by dense
shelf water plumes. Conversely, reduced deposition occurs
beneath the high-velocity WSC shallow core. Contouring
labels of the coloured pattern refer to current velocity (cm/s).
Site 5 (giant piston core and box core) is also indicated.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
6
(brine) originating on the large Barents continental shelf, that episodically feed the NSDW
(Rebesco et al., in press). Such dense shelf waters are produced during winter through persistent
freezing and brine release in the polynyas of the Barents Sea, particularly on the Storfjorden
(Quadfasel et al., 1988; Schauer, 1995) or at the central Bank (Quadfasel et al., 1992). The heat
loss from surface waters of a shelf basin to the atmosphere triggers convection and ice formation.
The consequent brine rejection produces brine-enriched shelf water (BSW), particularly in ice-
free regions. The BSW accumulates in the basin that might be enclosed by a sill, like in the case
of the Storfjorden, and eventually spills over the sill or finds paths to the deep sea. Upon
reaching the shelf edge, the plume of BSW cascades along the continental slope, i.e. descends
the continental slope under the combined effects of pressure gradient, frictional and the Coriolis
force. This process is thought to be the principal mechanism responsible for initiation of slope
convection in the Arctic Ocean contributing significantly to the overall heat and salt balance of
the deep Arctic Ocean basins and providing nutrients and ventilation to the deeper environments
(Fer et al. 2003). This complex phenomenon is, however, not yet fully understood and merit
further investigations. Yet it occurs sporadically in a small scale so it is not easy to detect.
Another important aspect
related to brine cascading the
continental slope, is the possibility
that large volumes of sediments
and organic particulate matter can
be transported down-slope by the
currents. Shelf water plumes often
show high turbidity indicating that
the high velocities associated with
the cascading plume create enough
turbulence to erode the sea bottom
sediments and/or to prevent
sedimentation. The entrainment of
re-suspended sediments in the
BSW is responsible for further
increase of current density that
greatly increasing their erosive
power while descending the slope.
This is the case of the so called TS-
turbidites defined by Fohrmann et
al. (1998) and Sternberg et al.,
2001 on the continental slope of the Kveithola Trough, adjacent to Storfjorden that deposited by
low-temperature, high salinity and turbidity flows.
The presence of suspended sediment is an essential condition for active deposition from
bottom currents in oceans. Bottom currents may carry in suspension a considerable amount of
fine material and particulate organic matter (McCave, 1985), forming the bottom nepheloid layer
(Ewing and Thorndike, 1965). The depositional mechanism inferred for build-up of the Isfjorden
Figure 2.3: Multichannel seismic profile EG_04 crossing
the Bellsund Drift. Location of Site 3 (giant piston core, box
core, and mooring) is also shown. Note that in this site the
sedimentary section above reflector R1 (blue colour line,
estimated about 200 ka old) is more expanded (about 100
milliseconds) than at site 5 (about 80 ms, Fig. 2), suggesting
a higher sedimentation rate calculated to be about 37 cm/ka.
Thus, the giant piston core may sample sediments as old as
about 60 ka.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
7
and Bellsund drifts is that of plastered drifts growing on the continental slope side (Rebesco et
al., in press). In our case study the western slope of Spitsbergen is swept by the surface branch of
the West Spitsbergen Current, having velocities that prevent deposition on the eastern side of the
contourite drifts and/or erosion in the uppermost part of the continental slope (Fig. 2.2).
Conversely, the offshore branch of WSC, focused below about 1400 m depth, shows slower
velocities of 9 cm/s or less. These velocities result in deposition directly below the current
pathway of the Norwegian Sea Deep Water within the offshore branch of WSC.
2.1.2 Specific aims of the project
The aim of PREPARED is to investigate and define the present and past oceanographic
patterns around two contourite drifts located on the eastern side of the Fram Strait (Bellsund and
Isfjorden sediment drifts) using a full range of time scales, from instantaneous (CTD) and
seasonal (moorings) oceanographic measurements, to the recent (Box corer) and geologic
(Calypso core) past record. The project is therefore conceived under a multidisciplinary and
interdisciplinary view in order to consider the interaction between various components of the
Arctic system in this area. Our study area is regarded as a key zone for the reconstruction of the
Arctic Ocean circulation, which in turn, plays a key role in the global thermohaline system.
Specific oceanographic objectives are:
- The study of water mass properties through hydrographical sections along key transects
(quasi-synoptic CTD measurements over a large area including the deep area close to the
Fram Strait);
- The definition of seasonal water mass characteristics and sediment transport over one or
more years on a limited area (long-term mooring measurements for the determination of
current velocity and direction, water turbidity, oxygen, temperature, and salinity);
- Determination of seasonal depositional rates by deployment of sediment traps around the
Bellsund contourite drift;
- Reconstruction of sediment and water masses provenance through bio-geochemical
characterization of both water samples and shallow sediments (Box corer and Rosette);
- Connections between the variability of deep water mass characteristics and events of
dense shelf water cascading from the Storfjorden shelf;
- Determination of dense water pathway from the shallow cascading area towards the
deeper part of the Arctic area through the Fram Strait.
Specific geologic objectives are:
- The definition of a high-resolution, detailed age model for stratigraphic cross correlation
still lacking in this area (Calypso piston core). Contourite drifts are particularly suitable
for this type of investigation as they usually contain expanded, continuous sequences rich
of bioclasts useful for radiometric dating;
- The reconstruction of past climatic changes including minor scale fluctuations within
each climate stage (Calypso piston core) with special emphasis to the Holocene (Box
cores for the sediment/water interface and recent geological record);
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
8
- Definition of the process of sediment transfer and dispersion on the continental slope
from subglacial meltwater outbursts during early deglaciation phases. Interaction between
meltwater plumes and thermohaline circulation and impact on primary productivity
determined through palaeoenvironmental reconstructions;
- Characterization of bedforms (multi-beam and sub-bottom) by integration of new and
pre-existing geophysical data.
2.2 Cruise research program to accomplish specific objectives
The cruise research program included oceanographic, biogeochemical, and geological
investigations. The cruise program was re-modulated from its original version taking into
account the technical characteristics of the on-board instrumentation (e.g. small-sized Rosette
requiring 2 consecutive, time consuming, deployments to accomplish the large water sample
volume required among all partners), and the final availability of the oceanographic device
necessary for moorings’ setting. Contingent problems with the oceanographic instrumentation
happened to Prof. Fer Ilker (University of Bergen) during the cruise preparation, resulted with
his withdrawal from the oceanographic cruise. As a consequence, the initially programmed 5
mooring sites were reduced to 3 and we accordingly modified part of the initial configuration of
CTD transects (reduced number of transects but higher, mesoscale, resolution).
The PREPARED cruise
acquisition program included
(Fig. 2.4):
• Underway measurements by
means of the ship-borne
Acoustic Doppler Current
Profiler (ADCP) and
thermosalinograph to be
undertaken during the whole
cruise;
• CTD casts to be performed
along 4 hydrographical
sections (transects TR1, TR2,
TR4, TR6), for the study and
reconstruction of water mass
configuration and properties
in the area at macro- and
meso-scale;
• Water samples collected by a
Rosette sampler at different
depths during the up-cast at
22 sites, for the
reconstruction of sediment
and water masses
Figure 2.1: Working area and track chart of the R/V G.O. SARS
Cruise 191, Eurofleets-2 PREPARED. Red solid lines indicate the
outward track whereas dashed lines refer to return trip. Depth
contours: 50, 500, 1500, 2500, 3500 m as dotted brown lines; 100,
200, 300, 400, 1000, 2000, 3000 m solid grey lines.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
9
characteristics in order to define their provenance though biogeochemical analyses
comprising dissolved oxygen determination by Winkler method;
• Meso-zooplankton sampling carried out by vertical hauls (WP2 net) for the study of the
biological productivity of the area.
• 5 Box cores located at the moorings’ and Calypso cores’ sites in order to characterize the
uppermost part of the sedimentary column and the sediment-water interface, and additional 3
Box cores along transect TR1 focused on the micro-plastics investigation at the sea surface;
• 2 Calypso piston cores collected at the crest of the two identified sediment drifts (Bellsund
and Isfjorden Drifts) for the definition of a high-resolution, detailed age model for
stratigraphic cross correlation, and the reconstruction of past climatic changes including
minor scale fluctuations within each climate stage, with special emphasis for the Holocene
interval;
• A seismic survey (Sub-bottom and multibeam) to perform across the mooring’s and Calypso
core sites for the morphological characterization of the sea bottom with identification of
possible bedforms as indicator of bottom currents, definition of depth, and for a better
Calypso long piston core positioning in order to achieve the maximum corer penetration.
We fulfilled the establish objectives. In addition, 1) we extended transect TR6 with
supplementary 4 CTD sites ending at the Isfjorden outer mouth, 2) we included the mesoscale
CTD transect TR7 located off Hornsund fjord, 3) we additionally run 20 water samples using the
OGS horizontal hauls, Manta net, in collaboration and support of the associated Eurofleets-2
student project Polar Plastics, and 4) on the way back to Tromsø, we repeated the CTD transect
TR1 at mesoscale resolution in order to map with higher detail the interesting oceanographic
configuration observed at the beginning of acquisition in the study area.
3. NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE
(R.G. Lucchi and V. Kovacevic)
The scientific party onboard the Norwegian R/V G.O. Sars comprised 24 research scientists
forming the PREPARED team; 2 Eurofleets students forming the Polar Plastic Project team; 4
technicians from the University of Bergen and Institute of Marine Research, necessary to run the
activities related with the Calypso coring system, CTD measurements and seismic survey; and,
for the first time during a Eurofleets cruise, 1 Teacher at See from the EGU-GIFT program
(http://www.egu.eu/education/gift/,). Fifteen people formed the crew lead by Captain John Hugo
Johnson. Beside of the Norwegian crew, the scientific party included Italian, Croatian,
Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Polish, German, Russian, English and Brazilian coming
from 11 different European Research Institutions and Universities.
The embarking operation of the equipment for the cruise took place at the city centre harbour
during the morning of June 4 under the supervision of a small group of the scientific party. The
very first meeting of the PREPARED cruise was organized in a pub of Tromsø the night before
the cruise start. The two co-chief scientists delivered some logistical information for the day after
and the group familiarized around a beer.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
10
Maps location of the studied sites are organized in Appendix A÷F, whereas Appendix G
contains detailed information of the cruise operations that were automatically recorded onboard
the vessel during the cruise through the G.O. Sars survey report navigation tool. In the following
we will synthesize the activities undertaken during the cruise especially for those not
automatically recorded by the navigation system.
Thursday, 5
th
of June 2014: The first day.
On the first day, we left the Hotel in Tromsø at 7:45 (local time) in order to be ready to
embark on the R/V G.O Sars by 8 am. We spent the morning organizing ourself in the cabins
assigned by Captain Johnson and to ensure all the equipment was firmly fixed and organized in
the laboratories before the start of the cruise. We left Tromsø at 14:20 (local time) in a sunny and
very warm day (26°C) with a completely flat sea.
During the transfer from Tromsø to the study area, the scientific party was introduced to the
onboard security procedures and visited the vessel taking knowledge of the onboard facilities. A
first meeting took place at 18:00 (UTC time that will be used through out the report from now on
if not otherwise specify) in the conference room for scientific party self-introduction, project
presentation and remarks on common goals.
At 19:30 the Polar Plastic team started the first ocean surface waters filtering for micro-
plastics litter determination that continued all over the night and the following morning. In
addition to the two Eurofleets students dedicated to the Polar Plastic Project, the original team
was assisted by one marine biologist of the PREPARED group (Dr. V. Tirelli) having developed
previous experiences on this topic in the Mediterranean Sea, that was happy to exchange
information on the issue adding new experience in the Arctic area.
Friday, 6
th
of June 2014: Transit to the study area.
Friday was mainly a preparatory day to complete the setup of the on-board laboratories
necessary for 1) sediments micropaleontological analysis, 2) ocean surface zooplankton species
determination and volume estimation, and 3) biogeochemical analyses of the water samples.
Specific working group meetings were organized on the 3 main on-board research activities:
1) CTD casts, Rosette water sampling and analyses, 2) sediment sampling and seismic survey, 3)
moorings set up and deployment. A shifts table was also prepared and discussed by the evening.
We suggested a flexible shift table in order to combine each personal principal activity with the
necessity to have a minimum number of people available during the 24 h. We assigned a 4+8
shift to the scientific party whereas the two co-chief scientists decided for a 12+12 shift giving
the possibility to work with all shifts’ groups. We also generated a scientific party facebook, a
sort of poster reporting the photo and name of all cruise participants thought to be a useful tool to
quickly learn the name of everybody. We inserted the PREPARED cruise facebook in Appendix
H that was extended to include the Captain and crew of the R/V G.O. Sars expedition 191.
During the transfer, the micro-plastics team carried out the surface water analyses using both
a filtering pump and the OGS Manta-net used for the first time in the Arctic sea. CTD cast and
Rosette were tested in the evening (Station T1, Appendix A and G) before the arrival at the first
station (St. 6, transect TR1).
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
11
Saturday, 7
th
of June 2014: Arrival in the study area.
We started the acquisition at 2 am. Transect TR1 consists of 6 stations SE-NW oriented
across the Storfjorden Trough and included CTD profiles with water sampling and Manta-net
trawl at every second station. We ended transect TR1 at 11.27 am and moved to station 7,
located in the innermost part of transect TR2 running NE-SW along the Storfjorden Trough,
orthogonal to transect TR1 (Fig. 2.1).
Station 7 was analysed with CTD, water sampling, and sediment sampling (Box core GS191-
01BC). At this site we detected the presence of cold, oxygenated but low salinity bottom waters.
The sampled sediment surface had a jelly-like consistency with abundant black tubes of worms.
Something similar has been described in the neighbouring Kveithola glacial trough where it was
initially associated to evidence of local cold seeps (Hanebuth et al., 2013). As in that study case,
the sediments are oxidized in the upper 1-2 cm (dark brown) and appear very-dark gray/black
just below this interval with intense bioturbation.
The small size of the Rosette sampler (holding 12 instead of 24 Niskin bottles) and the high
volume of water samples required by the PREPARED partners for individual analyses required
two consecutive CTD-casts deployments at each water sampling station. The operation along
transect TR2 took over the whole day to terminate the morning after. In the meanwhile, the
Calypso corer was set with a barrel 21.40 m-long, the piston positioned in the deeper part of the
barrel, and the core cutter and catcher mounted in order to have the coring system ready for the
day after.
Sunday, 8
th
of June 2014: Calypso coring day.
The CTD and water sampling operations along transect TR2 finalized at 8:30 am, after which
we sailed to the first Calypso coring station BD located at the crest of the Bellsund sediment
drift. One hour before the arrival we tested the Kongsberg multi-beam and TOPAS sub-bottom.
We realized that multi-beam and sub-bottom surveys could not be run contemporaneously
because the TOPAS seismic source would cause background noise affecting the quality of the
multi-beam record. The site survey was then obtained with two consecutive orthogonal sections
10 NM-long each across the coring site with velocity of 6 NM for the multi-beam, and 8 NM for
the TOPAS.
The seismic survey at site BD was followed by CTD measurements for multi-beam data
calibration, and Box corer deployment (core GS191-02BC).
The deployment and recovery of the Calypso corer took over two hours (18-20) and it was
attended by the whole scientific party and crew. The sediment recovery was exceptionally good
with 19.67 m (about 92% of recovery), being the longest piston core recovered with the R/V
G.O. Sars. In the evening we moved to site S1 for the first mooring deployment.
Monday, 9
th
of June 2014: First mooring deployment.
We arrived at station S1 at approximately midnight. We firstly run the multi-beam survey
across site S1, then we bottom sampled the site for subsurface information (Box core GS191-
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
12
02BC). Two attempts of box coring failed to recover any sediment that we interpret as the
presence of coarse sediments at the sea bottom.
The mooring deployment at site S1 took approximately a couple of hours (4.00–5.52 am),
after which we moved to site 24 for CTD deployment and water sampling. A Manta-net was
carried out on transit from S1 to site 24, whereas Plankton-net was performed at site 24 (see
Appendix G).
After site 24 we sailed to site 25 located in the North-eastern end of transect TR4, that is
composed of 6 sites (25–30). Manta and Plankton-nets were carried out on transit between
stations. The operations lasted the whole night.
Tuesday, 10
th
of June 2014: Midnight sun.
The operations along the CTD transect TR4 finalized at about 1 am, thereafter we moved to
the northernmost transect of our program: transect TR6 oriented along the Isfjorden sediment
drift. Our first target was the site survey of the two mooring locations ID1 (crest of the drift and
Calypso coring site) and ID2 (moat of the drift located upslope with respect to the crest). After
the site survey we bottom sampled site ID1 with the Box core (core GS191-04BC) and
subsequently, we deployed the Calypso piston corer (core GS191-02PC). Good weather and sea-
water conditions allowed another almost full barrel penetration with 17.37 m of sediment
recovery (about 81% of recovery).
After the Calypso core retrieve, we sailed to site ID2 for CTD measurements and Box core
deployment. We attempted twice to core site ID2: the first attempt failed to recover any sediment
except for a smear of coarse sand and silt left in the Box core. At the second attempt we
recovered a lag of gravelly-silty-sands with large cobbles of IRD (up to 7 cm across).
After box-coring, we deployed the mooring. This operation took about 1 hour and it was
followed by triangulation in order to verify the exact location of the mooring site. The operation
ended over midnight and we could enjoy the beauty of the midnight sun in the Arctic.
Wednesday, 11
th
of June 2014: Italian Day in Tromsø.
After the triangulation for mooring site ID2, we went back to site ID1 for mooring
deployment and triangulation. The moving in/out between the two mooring sites ID1 and ID2
was dictated by i) availability of the technicians necessary for some operation (e.g. handle of the
crane for Calypso corer deployment) and ii) the necessity to perform sequential analyses in the
same site without compromizing the high-quality of the results (e.g. CTD measurements took
after coring operation that could be affected by the water turbidity induced by coring). CTD,
mooring deployment and triangulation at site ID1 took place early in the morning (2.35–4.30),
after which we moved to site 45 located at the south-eastern end of transect TR6 in order to start
the measurements of CTD, water sampling, Manta and Pelagic-net along the transect. The data
acquisition took over the whole day (details in Appendix G).
The processing of the Calypso core GS191-02PC was postponed to the early afternoon to
allow the project coordinator, also involved in the coring processing, to take part through a
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
13
telephonic communication, to the Italian-Norwegian event: Beyond the Arctic Circle, the Italian
Day in Tromsø for co-operation in the Arctic Region, organized by the Italian Embassy in Oslo.
The telephonic communication took place on the master bridge and it was intended to represent
in the meeting a special event, in demonstration of the ongoing collaboration between Italian
coordinating and participating to the PREPARED project, and Norwegian as part of the scientific
party and owner of the research vessel.
Thursday, 12
th
of June 2014: Ardo’s Birthday.
The acquisition along transect TR6 finalized at 3.28 am on a sunny day with the beautiful
landscape of the outer side of the Isfjorden mouth. The transfer to the mesoscale transect TR7
took approximately 10 hours. In the meanwhile a rescue simulation by helicopter, and the party
for Ardo’s birthday for which the two co-chief scientists prepared Italian coffee for the whole
group, entertained the scientific party and crew. Parallel to the amusements, a scheme for the
scientific report start to be shaped and a form for the expression of interests to work on the
PREPARED data set was delivered to the scientific party.
We reached transect TR7 at 14:00 and we ended the mesoscale CTD acquisition at 19.30.
Since the transect ended near the mouth of the Hornsund fjord, we decided to move inside to see
the modern local glacial configuration. The short visit took approximately 2 hours after which
we moved back to transect TR1 for an additional mesoscale CTD acquisition across the
Storfjorden trough.
Friday, 13
th
of June 2014: Last CTD transect.
We arrived to the mesoscale transect TR1 at 2 am. CTD measurements at each site were
alternated with box-coring for micro-plastics litter investigation of the sea bottom. Some Box
cores failed to recover any sediment. The area appeared to be affected by strong bottom currents
(50 cm/sec according to ADCP onboard measurements) that possibly removed the fine-grained
sediment fraction so the Box corer could not penetrate the coarse lag of sediments draping the
sea floor. The only successful Box core in the area was taken in the south-eastern part of the
transect being off the main core of the Storfjorden bottom current. We finalized the cruise
acquisitions at 13.40 and start heading toward Tromsø. In the evening we had a meeting to
discuss the preliminary results and the preparation of the cruise report.
Saturday, 14
th
and Sunday 15
th
of June 2014: Sailing to Tromsø.
The transfer back to Tromsø was very busy for packing the instruments, cleaning the
laboratory and writing the report. We arrived in Tromsø at 6.30 am (8.30 local time) at the city
centre dock and we started almost immediately part of disembarking.
Monday, 16
th
of June 2014: End of the cruise.
Very cold day. In the morning we ultimate the instruments and samples disembarking and
customs clearances. Most of the scientific party left Tromsø in the afternoon while a small group
of us left on the day after.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
14
4. DATA COLLECTION
4.1 Underway measurements
4.1.1 Temperature and salinity from thermosalinograph
(S. Cosoli and V. Kovacevic)
Near-surface Temperature (T) and Salinity (S) data
were continuously collected every 10 seconds using the
SBE- 21 Seacat thermosalinograph system onboard the
ship, installed at a depth of 6.5 m below water surface,
along with fluorescence data at the same sampling depth.
T-S and current meter measurements started at the
beginning of the cruise, continued while CTD casts and
other planned sampling activities were performed, and
terminated at the return in Tromso. T-S data files
consisted of daily dataset in a standard ascii-formatted
Sea-Bird SBE 21 Data File: .cnv file, processed by
Seasave V 7.21f. Preliminary consistency checks
performed on the T-S data from the thermosalinograph,
using T-S data from the CTD casts at the CTD depth
closest to the thermosalinograph level, are given in
Figure 4.1, and suggest perfect match between the two
dataset, as correlation is above 0.99 for both salinity and
temperature, and mean biases are within the instrumental
accuracy.
Preliminary results
Along-track T-S plots provided in Figure 4.2 show the
presence of relatively fresh (S 34.10 - 35.06 PSU) and
warm (T > 7 C) waters. Their salinity and temperature values are gradually increasing and
decreasing, respectively, from the Norwegian coastal region offshore Tromso in direction of
Bjorn Island, where a front of cold (T < 0˚) and relatively fresh (S ~34.6 PSU) waters was
observed. This front is interrupted by a smaller front of saltier and warmer water. This structure
was detected both at the beginning of the cruise and during the return to Tromso at the end of
the cruise, and is most likely originating from Atlantic waters (warmer and saltier waters)
intruding the colder and fresher front of Artic-type waters. Near-surface current data, displayed
in both Figure 4.3 and Figure 4.4, support this hypothesis, as this small-scale warm area is
associated with a zonal currents directed into the Barents Sea, while the colder front offshore
Storfjorden is associated with a zonal outflow from the Barents Sea. To the North, offshore
Longyearbyen, near-surface waters have relatively high-salinity (S > 35.1 PSU) and
temperatures (T > 4˚), presumably due to the presence of Atlantic-type waters. Temperature
and Salinity minima are observed in the coastal strip in correspondence of the Bellsund fjord
and in proximity of the Storfjorden area.
Figure 4.1: thermosalinograph data
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
15
Figure 4.3: Along-track near-surface
currents (bin 1, approximate depth 37 m
below surface) collected during the first
leg of the PREPARED cruise. Data are
displayed for the 75 kHz, quality-
controlled data set
Figure 4.2. Along-track
Temperature-Salinity (T-S) collected
during the PREPARED cruise
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
16
4.1.2 Hull mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)
(I. Goszczko and V. Kovacevic)
In order to measure the ocean currents two instruments were used simultaneously during the
whole cruise: 150 kHz and 75 kHz RDI Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers - ADCP (Ocean
Surveyor). The former allows monitoring the water column of the upper 200-300 m layer,
while the latter reaches as deep as 500-600 m. Both instruments are mounted on the keel of the
ship (6-8 below the surface). Given by the name, the ADCP uses Doppler effect to measure
relative motion of the water or rather the motion of the particles and plankton in a water. In
order to cover the water column a technique called range-gating is used, which includes the
principle of delayed time of return for echoes from far away compared to echoes from short
distances. The areas over which these signals are being backscattered are called depth cells or
bins.
During the whole cruise the cell
sizes varied from 2 to 16 meters (see
Tab. 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 for comparison).
A program called VmDas allowed to
configure average intervals at which
the output data would be stored. As
short and long time averages, one
and five minutes were selected
(Average Ensemble Interval). Over
these intervals VmDas continuously
deducted the boat’s average velocity,
pitch and roll and saved the output
with .STA and LTA extensions,
respectively.
Preliminary
In order to post process the data using Matlab .mat files were created by exporting a
selection of variables stored in the .STA and .LTA files. The preferred parameters are shown in
Figure 4.4, which illustrates the export options from the program WINADCP. The quality
control check for ADCP current data follows a sequential approach in which the collected
velocities are first corrected for the speed of the boat using the navigation information. Then, a
sequence of filters is applied on the ensembles with less than three beams for solution, on error
velocities, on correlation count, and on the cumulative distribution of the error velocities for the
ensembles that passed the previous steps. Quality controlled data are then stored in .mat files
(MATLAB proprietary binary format); velocity vectors are then plotted along the boat track
using the first ADCP bin below surface (approximate depth 37 m).
Figure 4.4: Export options of variables exported to a
.mat file. Here Anc Data Types refers to variables
belonging to the boat, and Series Data Types refer to the
ADCP readings.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
17
Table 4.1. PREPARED Project 2014 cruise. All transects done by means of RDI ADCP 150 kHz.
Colors indicate particular sections: yellow: St. 6 – St. 1, green: St. 7 – St. 15, cyan: St. 25 – St. 30,
magenta: St. 45 – St. 35, blue: St. 659 – St. 650 (and farther inside Hornsund), red: St. 559 – St. 6.
Table 2. PREPARED Project 2014 cruise. All transects done by means of RDI ADCP 75 kHz. Colors
indicate particular sections: yellow: St. 6 – St. 1, green: St. 7 – St. 15, cyan: St. 25 – St. 30, magenta: St.
45 – St. 35, blue: St. 659 – St. 650 (and farther inside Hornsund), red: St. 559 – St. 6.
Table 4.1.1: PREPARED Project 2014 cruise. All transects done by means of RDI ADCP 150 kHz. Colors indicate
particular sections: yellow: St. 6 – St. 1, green: St. 7 – St. 15, cyan: St. 25 – St. 30, magenta: St. 45 – St. 35, blue: St. 659 – St.
650 (and farther inside Hornsund), red: St. 559 – St. 6. !
No
File No
Start Lat
Start Long
Stop Lat
Stop Long
Bin size
Start time
Stop Time
Ensembles
1
001
69.5706
17.9587
72.3308
18.0642
2
2014-6-5 14:44
2014-6-6 6:00
917
2
002
72.3332
18.0646
74.1157
18.6041
2
2014-6-6 6:01
2014-6-6 17:01
661
3
003
74.1185
18.6035
75.9222
18.7674
2
2014-6-6 17:02
2014-6-7 4:20
679
4
004
75.9222
18.7675
76.2377
17.2570
2
2014-6-7 4:21
2014-6-7 9:43
323
5
005
76.2377
17.2570
76.3061
16.9505
2
2014-6-7 9:46
2014-6-7 10:54
69
6
006
76.3061
16.9506
76.3433
18.7427
2
2014-6-7 10:57
2014-6-7 14:54
238
7
007
76.3433
18.7427
75.9500
12.5667
2
2014-6-7 14:56
2014-6-8 6:07
912
8
009
75.9500
12.5666
75.9500
12.5667
2
2014-6-8 6:14
2014-6-8 7:01
48
9
010
75.9500
12.5667
76.4980
12.5931
2
2014-6-8 8:22
2014-6-8 11:27
186
10
011
76.4945
12.8522
76.5217
12.7385
2
2014-6-8 15:19
2014-6-8 22:05
407
11
012
76.4650
13.0922
76.4293
13.7590
2
2014-6-8 23:31
2014-6-9 0:23
53
12
013
76.4363
13.9422
76.7156
13.9112
2
2014-6-9 1:44
2014-6-9 10:26
523
13
014
76.7153
13.9093
76.5867
13.1127
2
2014-6-9 10:28
2014-6-9 14:42
178
14
015
76.5301
12.7277
76.3903
11.9397
2
2014-6-9 15:47
2014-6-9 21:52
366
15
016
76.3903
11.9397
77.6031
10.2071
8
2014-6-9 21:56
2014-6-10 8:50
655
16
017
77.6460
10.2815
77.5870
10.1458
4
2014-6-10 20:12
2014-6-11 4:26
495
17
018
77.5883
10.1179
77.3812
08.4837
4
2014-6-11 4:30
2014-6-11 6:46
137
18
019
77.3811
08.4813
78.0611
13.4844
4
2014-6-11 6:47
2014-6-12 3:07
1221
19
020
78.0623
13.4822
76.8408
13.0547
4
2014-6-12 3:11
2014-6-12 12:57
586
20
024
76.8408
13.0557
76.9476
15.5153
2
2014-6-12 13:48
2014-6-12 21:48
481
21
025
76.9447
15.4872
76.4025
16.9146
2
2014-6-12 21:51
2014-6-13 3:37
300
22
026
76.3779
16.9257
75.9177
18.8151
4
2014-6-13 3:49
2014-6-13 13:40
592
23
027
75.9104
18.8088
69.6494
18.9636
4
2014-6-13 13:45
2014-6-15 06:48
2464
Table 4.1.2: PREPARED Project 2014 cruise. All transects done by means of RDI ADCP 75 kHz. Colors indicate particular
sections: yellow: St. 6 – St. 1, green: St. 7 – St. 15, cyan: St. 25 – St. 30, magenta: St. 45 – St. 35, blue: St. 659 – St. 650 (and
farther inside Hornsund), red: St. 559 – St. 6.!
No
File No
Start Lat
Start Long
Stop Lat
Stop Long
Bin size
Start time
Stop Time
Ensembles
1
001
69.5773
17.9409
72.3303
18.0641
16
2014-6-5 14:47
2014-6-6 6:00
914
2
002
72.3341
18.0648
74.1168
18.6039
16
2014-6-6 6:01
2014-6-6 17:01
661
3
003
74.1196
18.6033
75.9222
18.7675
16
2014-6-6 17:02
2014-6-7 4:20
679
4
004
75.9222
18.7675
76.2377
17.257
16
2014-6-7 4:21
2014-6-7 9:47
327
5
005
76.2377
17.257
76.3061
16.9505
16
2014-6-7 9:48
2014-6-7 10:54
67
6
006
76.3061
16.9506
76.3399
18.5159
16
2014-6-7 10:57
2014-6-7 14:11
164
7
007
76.3433
18.7427
75.95
12.5665
16
2014-6-7 14:56
2014-6-8 6:09
914
8
009
75.95
12.5665
76.4974
12.5908
16
2014-6-8 6:13
2014-6-8 11:27
315
9
010
76.4941
12.854
76.5217
12.7385
16
2014-6-8 15:19
2014-6-8 22:05
407
10
012
76.4653
13.088
76.4289
13.7679
16
2014-6-8 23:31
2014-6-9 0:24
54
11
013
76.4362
13.9421
76.7157
13.9116
16
2014-6-9 1:44
2014-6-9 10:26
523
12
014
76.7154
13.9097
76.5296
12.7282
16
2014-6-9 10:28
2014-6-9 15:44
317
13
015
76.5301
12.7278
76.3903
11.9397
16
2014-6-9 15:47
2014-6-9 21:53
367
14
016
76.3903
11.9397
77.6031
10.207
16
2014-6-9 21:57
2014-6-10 8:50
654
15
017
77.646
10.2815
77.587
10.146
8
2014-6-10 20:12
2014-6-11 4:26
495
16
018
77.5876
10.1269
77.381
8.4868
8
2014-6-11 4:29
2014-6-11 6:45
137
17
019
77.3811
8.4843
78.0611
13.4844
8
2014-6-11 6:46
2014-6-12 3:07
1222
18
020
78.0622
13.4823
76.8408
13.0547
8
2014-6-12 3:11
2014-6-12 12:58
588
19
024
76.8408
13.0556
76.9506
15.5444
8
2014-6-12 13:46
2014-6-12 21:48
483
20
025
76.9446
15.4856
76.4037
16.9129
8
2014-6-12 21:51
2014-6-13 3:36
300
21
026
76.3773
16.9259
75.9176
18.8154
8
2014-6-13 3:53
2014-6-13 13:41
589
22
027
75.9116
18.8091
69.6494
18.9636
8
2014-6-13 13:45
2014-6-15 06:49
2465
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
18
Preliminary results
The Greenland Sea
region west of Spitsbergen
over the continental slope
and off-shore the shelf is
dominated by the boundary
current system, so-called
the West Spitsbergen
Current (WSC). This
vigorous flow is a
continuation of the
Norwegian Atlantic
Current carrying warm and
saline Atlantic Water from
the North Atlantic, farther
to the Norwegian and
Barents Seas and
eventually to the Arctic
Ocean through the Fram Strait (Walczowski et al, 2012, Fig. 4.5). The sections performed
during the cruise cross the main flow in several important regions: the slope current,
recirculation in the Storfjordrenna, shelf-break area.
Along transects surface currents velocity and directions plotted at the map (Figure 4.6)
indicate strong currents above the slope region in the core of the WSC directed to the North
what is consistent with the previous observations (for instance, Osinski et al, 2003). Near the
Isfjorden mouth there is
an eastward flow towards
the fjord. Across the
Storfjordrenna mouth
outflow may be observed
in the central part of the
section and inflow in the
northern part (depend on
the time – there were 2
sections done along
similar line). More
detailed information may
be inferred from the
distribution of the cross-
sections North and East
velocity components
(examples in Figures 4.7
and 4.8).
Figure 4.5: A schematic illustration of the Atlantic Water inflow into
the Nordic Seas (from Walczowski et al, 2012).
Figure 4.6: Along track currents velocity and directions based on
measurements from the second bin from RDI ADCP 150 kHz.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
19
Figure 4.7: North and East components of the flow at section across the slope (file 019 in Table 1)
inferred from the RDI ADCP 150 kHz data. Strong flow to the North above the slope and shelf is
clearly visible. Recirculation to the West is also marked in the central part of the section.
Figure 4.8: North and East components of the flow at section across the Storfjordrenna mouth (file
026 in Table 1) inferred from the RDI ADCP 150 kHz data. Inflow to the East near the Sorkapp and
outflow to the South-West in the central part are clearly visible.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
20
4.1.3 Meteorology
(E. A. Ersdal)
The synoptic situation
G.O. Sars left Tromsø the 5th of June and the weather situation was dominated by stable
high pressure over Northern Scandinavia and the Nordic Sea. This resulted in calm wind
conditions, predominantly between west and north. During the 12th of June the high pressure
weakened and a low pressure developed north of Svalbard, which set up a more defined
northwesterly wind field in the Fram Strait and Nordic Sea. The figures below show the Mean
Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute from this period.
Weather observations from the area including the reaserch vessel are included in the plots. The
call sign of G.O. Sars is LMEL.
6
th
of June 2014, 12 UTC 8
th
of June 2014, 12 UTC
10
th
of June 2014, 12 UTC 11
th
of June 2014, 12 UTC
Figure 4.9: The plots show the Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) given by the Norwegian
Meteorological Institute.
20.0
3.2
16.9
4.3
16.6
19.6
12.2
4.2
3.0
4.9
1.1
2.5
26.2
14.2
27.9
23.3
23.0
14.8
ï0.3
3.1
ï0.7
1.6
27.6
22.7
6.5
LMEL
6.6
24.0
DIANA.arkiv.2014 MSLP (00 +3756) 2014ï06ï06 12 UTC
SYNOP 2014ï06ï06 12:00 (11:30 ï 12:30 ) ( 8410 )
Fredag 2014ï06ï06 12 UTC
15.5
11.4
14.5
5.7
6.1
8.2
14.3
4.2
4.6
14.5
9.5
12.4
10.7
10.9
9.7
4.6
LMEL
6.0
8.0
UCKD
10.0
3.7
2.2
4.6
1.1
3.8
14.0
5.2
SHIP
7.4
8.0
4.8
ï0.6
0.4
DIANA.arkiv.2014 MSLP (00 +3804) 2014ï06ï08 12 UTC
SYNOP 2014ï06ï08 12:00 (11:30 ï 12:30 ) ( 8295 )
Søndag 2014ï06ï08 12 UTC
12.2
2.8
LMEL
6.1
14.9
6.2
4.2
7.7
12.8
ï0.3
ï1.0
2.6
10.0
0.3
1.8
7.1
2.8
2.4
9.5
10.3
3.2
SHIP
1.3
12.7
HIRLAM.8KM.arkiv MSLP (06 +6) 2014ï06ï10 12 UTC
SYNOP 2014ï06ï10 12:00 (11:30 ï 12:30 ) ( 8412 )
Tirsdag 2014ï06ï10 12 UTC
13.0
9.0
7.8
8.7
4.0
7.6
7.6
9.1
2.8
2.6
12.7
1.0
2.5
11.1
1.6
ï0.4
3.6
0.4
4.3
SHIP
5.8
3.6
LMEL
5.3
19.4
4.5
1.4
3.4
DBLK
7.1
HIRLAM.8KM.arkiv MSLP (06 +30) 2014ï06ï11 12 UTC
SYNOP 2014ï06ï11 12:00 (11:30 ï 12:30 ) ( 8539 )
Onsdag 2014ï06ï11 12 UTC
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
21
Observations from the R/V G.O. Sars
The R/V G.O. Sars registered weather observations of wind speed and direction, air
pressure, and air/sea water temperature at every 10 minutes. The data collected during the
whole cruise is reported in figure 4.10, where the plots were smoothed applying a 2-hour
running mean data (Gaussian filter).
The Rose-plot of Figure 4.11, indicates the predominant wind’s direction during the
PREPARED cruise that varied manly between southwest and north.
Figure 4.10: The time series of air- and sea temperature, air pressure, wind speed and direction is
shown in the plot above. The time series measurements has been smoothed with a Gaussian filter.
06/06 07/06 08/06 09/06 10/06 11/06 12/06 13/06 14/06
0
10
20
30
Air temp (C)
06/06 07/06 08/06 09/06 10/06 11/06 12/06 13/06 14/06
ï5
0
5
10
Sea temp (C)
06/06 07/06 08/06 09/06 10/06 11/06 12/06 13/06 14/06
1010
1015
1020
1025
Air pressure(hPa)
06/06 07/06 08/06 09/06 10/06 11/06 12/06 13/06 14/06
0
5
10
15
Wind speed (m/s)
06/06 07/06 08/06 09/06 10/06 11/06 12/06 13/06 14/06
0
200
400
Wind dir (deg)
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, May 05–15, 2014
22
photo by Fredriksson
photo by Robijn
10
20
30
40
50
30
210
60
240
90270
120
300
150
330
180
0
N
W
S
Figure 4.11: A rose plot
shows the most dominant wind
direction for the period
05
th
- 14
th
of June.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
23#
4.2 Conductivity, temperature and depth measurements (CTD)
(R. Skogseth, I. Goszczko and V. Kovacevic)
A total of 60 conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiles were made during the
PREPARED cruise using a SBE9/11 plus CTD system from Seabird Electronics. Transects with
station location are shown in the map of Appendix A, whereas Appendix G contains detailed
information at each CTD station (see also Ch.7, Station list).
The CTD system consisted of a pressure sensor (Digiquartz), two conductivity sensors, two
temperature sensors, an oxygen sensor from SeaBird Electronics (SBE43), a combined optical
sensor (ECO FLNTU, fluorometer and OBS from WET Labs), a transmissometer C-Star from
WET Labs, an altimeter. The CTD system was assembled with a SBE Carousel Water Sampler
(SBE32) holding 12 Niskin bottles, 10-L capacity each. The specifications of the sensors are
given in Table 4.3.
The data were acquired by the PC with the Seabird software SEASAVE ver. 7.21f and
processed with the Seabird software SEASOFT following standard processing routines. One
water sample was taken at each station from the deepest Niskin bottle for salinity measurements
at the IMR Bergen laboratory. Twenty-four samples from the deepest bottle at selected stations
were taken for the salinity measurements at the OGS laboratory.
Table 4.3: SBE9/11 plus CTD sensor specifications.
Sensor'
Serial'nr.'
Calibration'
date'
Range'
Accuracy'
Resolution'
Pressure
510
06.04.06
0 to 6800 m
0.015% of
6800 m
0.001%#of#
6800#m#
Conductivity
1827 &
3442 (OGS)
28.10.13 &
21.01.14
0 to 7 S/m
0.0003
S/m
0.00004#
S/m#
Temperature
1527 &
1717 (OGS)
13.11.13 &
21.01.14
-5 to +35 °C
0.001 °C
0.0002#°C#
Oxygen
0356
08.12.12
120% of surf.
sat.
2% of sat.
variable#
Fluorometer
FLNTURTD-3006
(OGS)
03.06.13
#
OBS
FLNTURTD-3006
(OGS)
03.06.13
#
Transmissometer
CST-1621DR
Pathlength 25 cm
(OGS)
04.06.13
#
Altimeter
60144
Not known
0-100 m
#
During the cruise seven CTD sections were occupied. The hydrographical properties are
illustrated by in situ temperature (ITPS-68 scale), salinity and density (in terms of sigma_t).
Temperature-salinity (TS) diagrams along each section are plotted in Figure 4.12. They show
distinction and mixing between the different water masses. The temperature and salinity ranges
of the present water masses are listed in Table 4.4.#
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
24#
a) #
b) #
c) #
d) #
e)#
f) #
Figure 4.12: Temperature-Salinity (TS) diagrams of a) Transect 1 (Station 6 to Station 1), b) Transect
2 (Station 7 to Station 15), c) Transect 3 (Station 25 to Station 30), d) Transect 4 (Station 35 to Station
45), e) Transect 5 (Station 650 to Station 659) and f) Transect 6 (Station 559 to Station 6). Station
location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
25#
Table 4.4: The water masses present in the eastern Fram Strait, the West Spitsbergen Shelf and in
Storfjordrenna. From Skogseth et al. (2005), Svendsen et al. (2002), Langehaug and Falck (2012).
Name'
Abbreviation'
Temperature'range'[°C]'
Salinity'range'[psu]'
Atlantic#Water#
AW#
>3#
>35#
Transformed#Atlantic#Water#
TAW#
1#to#3#
34.7#to#34.9#
Arctic#Intermediate#Water#
AIW#
G1.1#to#0#
34.7#to#34.92#
Norwegian#Sea#Deep#Water#
NSDW#
G1.1#to#G0.5#
34.9#to#34.92#
Arctic#Water#
ArW#
<0#
34.3#to#34.8#
BrineGenriched#Shelf#Water#
BSW#
<G1.5#
>34.8#
Polar#front#Water#
PW#
G0.5#to#2#
34.8#to#35#
Surface#Water#
SW#
>0#
<34.4#
#
Figure 4.13 shows the distribution of temperature (in situ, IPTS-68 scale), salinity, density (in
terms of sigma_t) and dissolved oxygen content across Storfjordrenna from Station 6 to Station
1. Atlantic Water (AW) with temperatures above 3°C and salinity above 35 psu is seen in the
whole trough except for some remnants of colder, less saline and denser Storfjorden plume water
or Polar front Water (PW) along the bottom. This water has higher oxygen content than the AW
that shows two oxygen minimums indicating inflow or outflow cores along the slopes of
Storfjordrenna.
#
(a)#
#(b)#
#(c)#
#(d)#
Figure 4.13: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen (ml/l) distributed
across Storfjordrenna from Station 6 to Station 1. Station’s location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
26#
Figure 4.14 shows the distribution of temperature, salinity, density and oxygen content along
Storfjordrenna and across the slope into the eastern Fram Strait from Station 7 to Station 15. AW
is seen in Storfjordrenna until Station 9 where it meets a mixture of less saline Surface Water
(SW) and Transformed Atlantic Water (TAW) in the upper layer and dense Storfjorden plume
water or PW in the lower layer. Brine-enriched Shelf Water (BSW) with temperature down to -
1.5 °C and salinity above 35 psu is found at the bottom of Station 7. The oxygen minimum at
~200 m depth indicates the core of the AW. Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW) with minimum
oxygen content is seen below ~700 m depth along the slope.
#
(a)#
#
(b)#
#
#
(c)#
(d)#
Figure 4.14: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen (ml/l) distributed
across the section from Station 7 to Station 1.5 Station’s location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
27#
Figure 4.15 shows the distribution of temperature, salinity, density and oxygen content across
the section from Station 25 at the shelf break outside Hornsund to Station 30 in the deeper parts
of the eastern Fram Strait. As in Figure 4.14, AW is seen in the surface layer and down to ~500
m depth with warmer and oxygen rich water in the surface. In the deepest layer, NSDW is
present. Arctic Intermediate Water (AIW) with higher oxygen content is present between ~500-
800 m depths at Stations 30 and 29. Water with relatively higher oxygen content and temperature
and salinity characteristics similar to the Storfjorden plume is visible at ~600-800 m depth at
Station 27.
#
(a)#
#
(b)##
#
(c)#
#
(d)#
Figure 4.15: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen (ml/l) distributed
across the section from Station 25 to Station 30. Station’s location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
28#
Figure 4.16 shows the distribution of temperature, salinity, density and oxygen content across
the section from the mouth of Isfjorden at Station 35 to the deeper parts of the eastern Fram
Strait ending at a submarine peak at Station 45. AW is occupying the ~500 m upper layer in the
Fram Strait and the whole water column at the shelf. The AW core or the core of the West
Spitsbergen Current (WSC) seems to be situated at ~100-200 m depth between Station 41 and 39
with a clear horizontal density gradient and an oxygen minimum. The surface water and the
water at the shelf have very high oxygen content (the highest observed at the cruise). The
Storfjorden plume water is still visible with a relative oxygen maximum at ~700-800 m depth at
Station 41. AIW is present between ~600-1100m depths between Stations 45 and 43. NSDW
with the lowest oxygen content is present along the bottom of the slope in the Fram Strait and
seems to be more squeezed to the West Spitsbergen Shelf (WSS) slope.
#
(a)#
#
(b)#
#
(c)#
#
(d)#
Figure 4.16: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen (ml/l) distributed
across the section from Station 35 to Station 45. Station’s location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
29#
Figure 4.17 shows the distribution of temperature, salinity, density and oxygen content across
the WSS just north of Hornsund from Station 650 to Station 659 (UNIS station numbers). Warm
and saline AW is following the shelf slope and shelf break and creates a density front between
Stations 656 and 655 against low salinity, oxygen rich Surface Water (SW) on the shelf and
colder, less saline modified AW (MAW) in the lower layer on the shelf. The SW is a mixture
between glacial and sea ice melt water and MAW or local ArW and follows the Spitsbergen
Polar Current along the coast of West Spitsbergen.
#
#
(a)#
#
#
(b)#
#
(c)#
#
(d)#
Figure 4.17: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen content (ml/l)
distributed across the section from Station 650 to Station 659. Station’s location in Appendix A.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
30#
Figure 4.18 shows the distribution of temperature, salinity, density and oxygen content across
Storfjordrenna from Station 6 to Station 559. This is the same section as in Figure 4.13, but
obtained one week later. AW is still present as two cores following the southern and northern
slopes of the trough. The dense Storfjorden plume is now only visible in the deeper part of the
trough and is slightly squeezed more to the southern slope of the trough. The surface layer is
warmer and two warm cores aligned with the AW cores are separated by less saline water at
Station 556. The surface layer is still high in oxygen.
#
(a)#
#
(b)#
#
(c)#
#
(d)#
Figure 4.18: a) Temperature (°C), b) salinity (psu), c) density (kg/m
3
) and d) oxygen content (ml/l)
distributed across Storfjordrenna from Station 6 to Station 559. Station’s location in Appendix A.
In addition to the CTD transects, profile of temperature, salinity and density were measured
also at the mooring station S1, ID1 and ID2 (Fig. 4.19, b, c), which data will be used also for
multi-beam data calibration.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
31#
#
a)#
b)#
c)#
Figure 4.19: CTD profile at
mooring station:
a) S1
b) ID1
c) ID2
Station’s location in the map
of Appendix A.#
#
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
32!
4.3 Water sampling
(M. Celussi, F. Relitti, G. Ingrosso and V. Tirelli)
4.3.1 Water column sampling (Rosette and WP2 net)
CTD data defining water column features were used to decide the location and depth of
discrete water sampling for chemical and biological analyses, including pH, total alkalinity,
dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, inorganic nutrients, total
suspended matter, particulate carbon and nitrogen, chlorophyll a, prokaryotic abundance,
microphytoplankton, microzooplankton and mesozooplankton assemblage structure and
biomass. Sampling was carried out at selected stations along TR2, TR4 and TR6 throughout the
whole water column except where specifically indicated (sites location in Appendix A).
Samples for pH were collected in 125 mL glass bottles, immediately spiked with 25 µL of a
saturated HgCl2 solution and stored at 4°C. Analyses have been performed
spectrophotometrically at the OGS laboratories by the SOP6b ver 3.01 method (Dickson et al.,
2007).
Samples for total alkalinity were collected in 250 mL PP bottles after being filtered through
glass fibre membranes (GF/F, Whatman) with nominal pore size 0.7 µm, spiked with 50 µL of a
saturated HgCl2 solution and stored at 4°C. The standard operative procedure for total alkalinity
in seawater using open cell titration (SOP 3b., Dickson et al., 2007) will be followed.
For dissolved oxygen, water samples were collected in acid-cleaned and distilled-water rinsed
60 mL BOD bottles. Dissolved oxygen concentration was measured onboard with a Mettler
Toledo DL titrator for automated Winkler titration based on potentiometric end point detection,
as detailed by Zoppini et al. (2010).
Ten samples for chlorophyll determinations were collected at stations 1, 2, 3 and 7 in the
photic layer in order to check the calibration of the CTD-mounted fluorescence sensor. 2 litres of
seawater were filtered through Whatman GF/F glass-fiber filters (0.45 mm Ø) and immediately
frozen (–20°C) until analysis. The Lorenzen and Jeffrey (1980) fluorometric method will be used
to determine chlorophyll concentrations.
Seawater samples for dissolved inorganic nutrient analyses (NH
4
+
, NO
2
-
, NO
3
-
, PO
4
3
-
and
Si(OH)
4
-
) were pre-filtered on 0.7 µm pore size glass-fiber filters (Whatman GF/F) and stored at
-20°C. Analyses will be carried out by means of an automated flow analyzer Koroleff &
Grasshof (1983). The same analyses will be performed for determining the dissolved organic
phase of N and P, after mineralization of samples (total dissolved P and N) and subtraction of
relative inorganic concentrations.
Samples for DOC analyses were filtered through precombusted (4h at 480°C) and acidified
(1N HCl) Whatman GF/F glass fiber filters. Filtration was performed using a glass syringe and a
filter holder in order to prevent atmospheric contamination. The filtered samples were stored
frozen (-20°C) in 20 mL glass vials (previously treated with chromic mixture and precombusted
for 4h at 480°C) and will be analysed by means of a TOC analyzer according to Cauwet (1994).
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
33!
For total suspended matted (TSM), particulate organic C (POC) and particulate N (PN), 1 to
5L samples were filtered through pre-combusted and pre-weighted GF/F filters which were then
frozen at -20°C. Membranes will be desiccated and weighted in the laboratory for estimating
TSM concentration. Organic C and N content will be determined by means of a CHNO-S
elemental analyzer according to the methods of Pella and Colombo (1973) and Sharp (1974).
Samples for total prokaryotes and microplankton (phyto- and zoo-) were fixed with dolomite-
buffered formalin at 2 and 4% final concentrations respectively and stored at 4°C. Methods for
sampling and analyses are described in Fonda Umani et al. (2005). Microzooplankton samples
were collected only at sea surface, whereas microphytoplankton samples were collected along
the photic layer.
The samples for mesozooplankton were
collected in the upper layer, 0-100 m, of the
epipelagic zone (0-200 m) by vertical tows
performed with a WP2 net (200 µm mesh
aperture, 57 cm diameter) (Fig. 4.19 and
Appendix B for sampling location). The net was
carefully rinsed, and each sample was split in
two halves by using the Hunstman beaker
technique (Van Guelpen et al., 1982). One half
sample was fixed and preserved in a seawater-
buffered formaldehyde solution (4% final
concentration ) for subsequent determination of
abundance (number of individuals per unit of
volume) and species identification.
The other half fresh sample was analyzed
immediately for biomass measurements for which the sample was consecutively sieved through
2000, 1000, 500, and 200 µm meshes in order to obtain four size fractions (>2000 µm, 2000-
1000µm, 1000-500 µm, and 500-200 µm). Each size fraction was then re-suspended in a small
volume of filtered sea water and drained on a 200 µm mesh, after a quick final rinse with
distilled water in order to eliminate the sea water salt.
Each sample was then placed
in a small pre-weighted capsules
(Fig. 4.20), and dried on board in
the oven at 60 °C for 48 hours
after which the dry samples were
stored at -20°C for the transport
to the shore-based laboratories at
OGS. The dried samples will be
re-dried in laboratory and weigh
on an electronic microbalance.
!
Figure 4.19: WP2-Net for mesozooplankton
sampling.
!
Figure 4.20: Mesozooplankton samples for size fractioned
biomass analysis.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
34!
Preliminary results
Dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged between 6.68 and 11.76 mg L
-1
. The highest values
were found in surface waters in all transects, whereas oxygen depleted samples (< 8.5 mg L
-1
)
were collected at station 30, below 1000 m (Fig. 4.3.3).
Figure 4.21: Isopleths of dissolved oxygen concentration (Winkler method) as a function of the depth
along transects TR2, TR4 and TR6.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
35!
pH values followed an inshore to offshore and a surface to bottom decreasing trend with the
exception of station 7 where the absolute minimum (7.65) was found in correspondence of low-
temperature bottom waters (Fig. 4.22).
Figure 4.22: Isopleths of spectrophotometric pH as a function of the depth along transects 2, 4 and 6.
pH is reported on the total scale (pH
T
) at 25°C
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
36!
Mesozooplankton biomass ranged from 5.62 mgDW/m
3
to 213.95 mgDW/m
3
measured at
station 7 and station 15 respectively. The large zooplankton (size fraction 1000-2000µm) gave
the major contribution in terms of biomass while the smallest fraction (size faction 200-500 µm)
was the less important. Transect 2 and 4 were characterized by a decreasing offshore-inshore
gradient while along transect 6 this pattern was interrupted by the high value of biomass (133.35
mgDW/m
3
) measured at station 40 (Fig. 4.23).
Figure 4.23: Mesozooplankton biomass (mg DW/m
3
) along transects TR2, TR4 and TR6.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
37!
4.3.2 Zooplankton sampling in surface water (Manta net)
(V. Tirelli)
In collaboration with the POLAR PLASTIC project, neustonic samples were collected
with a Manta net (0.333 mm mesh, 3 m long, 4.24). The Manta net is a net system for sampling
ocean’s surface waters. The name derives from its shape resembling a manta ray, with metal
wings supported by buoyant aquaplanes, and a frontal broad mouth acting as a trap for ocean
surface suspended matter including plankton and marine litter.
Figure 4.24: Manta-net trawled behind the vessel.
The net was deployed from the stern of the vessel and sampled the top 10-15 cm, with at least
half of the net below the water. The manta net was towed for a set period of time (between 20
and 25 minutes), at an average speed of 1.5 knots to reduce the effect of the vessel movement
on the sampling area. A calibrated flow meter was attached to the mouth of the net to allow for
calculation of the amount of water filtered.
The manta net was deployed 22 times in Beaufont sea state 1-3, from the stern of the
vessel (Manta-net sampling location in Appendix C). Samples were stored for analysis in
formaline (4% final concentration) and will be preserved and analysed at OGS, in Trieste (Italy).
These samples will be analysed for micro-plastics (Eurofleets-2 student project Polar Plastics)
and hyponeustonic mesozooplankton (PREPARED project).
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
"#!
4.4 Moorings’ configuration and deployment
(S. Aliani, L. Langone, D. Deponte, P. Mansutti, S. Fredriksson, A.!Robijn, S. Cosoli,
and V. Kovacevic)
Three mooring sites (S1, ID1, and ID2) were placed in the study area as follows: S1 was
placed at the Storfjorden (S) slope at 1040 m depth, whereas ID1 and ID2 were placed at 1318 m
and 1040 m depth approximately at the Isfjorden sediment drift (ID) crest and moat respectively
(Appendix D).
Mooring S1 (Fig. 4.25), is equipped with one sequential sampling sediment trap (McLane) at
26 m above the bottom (sampling once a month during 1
st
of October to 1
st
of March and twice a
month during rest of the year). A SBE Seacat16plus V2 is added to the sediment trap in order to
measure conductivity and temperature (sampling rate 1 800 s) and another temperature meter,
SBE56, is placed 10 m above the bottom (sampling rate 900 s). The velocity is measured via an
ADCP RDI 150 kHz (programmed to measure 32 cell of 5 m each with a sampling rate of 30
minutes) connected to the buoy at 136 m above the bottom and an Aanderaa RCM8 current
meter (sampling rate 3 600 s) at 21 m above the bottom.
Mooring ID1 (Fig. 4.26), is equipped with one Aanderaa RCM11 current meter and a
SBE37SM/Microcat conductivity and temperature meter at 12 m and 14 m above the bottom,
respectively (sampling rate 7 200 s and 900 s respectively).
Mooring ID2 (Fig. 4.27) is equipped with one Aanderaa RCM4 and one RCM9 current meter
17.5 m and 120 m above the bottom (sampling rate 7 200 s and 3 600 s respectively). The
conductivity and temperature are measured with two SBE37SM/Microcat placed 15 m and 118.5
m above the bottom (sampling rate 900 s).
4.4.1 Instruments’ specifications
Beacon XEOS KILO
The `kilo` surface/subsurface Iridium Satellite Beacon with GPS location can continuously
monitor for unplanned or accidental release of the subsurface instrument moorings.
Main specifications are:
Depth rating 2500 m
Lifetime battery 1 year subsurface followed by 90 days messages (standard battery)
Iridium 9602 proprietary Dual band Iridium/GPS
GPS 48 channel SIRF starIV, GSD4e GPS chip
Releaser
Teledyne Benthos AR866A
The AR 866A is a rugged stainless steel transponding release, depth rated to 2000 m and
capable of loads up to 2200kg. The unit installed on the mooring ID1 is equipped with a 4 year
long-life battery.
Key-Specifications include:
Release Load 2200 kg
Release Mechanism high torque motor
Depth rating 2000 m
Battery Life 4 years (long life battery mode)
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
"$!
!
Figure 4.25: configuration of mooring S1
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
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Figure 4.26: Settings of mooring ID1 on the crest of Isfjorden sediment drift.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
%7!
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(!+,-./012!34/56! ! ! ! ! ! ! 7'%&!)!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 8'&&!)!910:;.!</=1!
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>3?!"@>A!A,B./B; -!7 $ 8 #C&@8&! ! ! ! ! D>3?!7!)!L1:/X!I4 ..1K -!) 1-1.E !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 7&('&&!)!910:;.!
</=1!
FFGH?<FF!<IA%!6JK!7*8%!! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!&'@"!)!
>3?!"@>A!A,B./B;-!7%7%$C&&""!! ! ! ! %'$&!)!910:;.!</=1!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! D>3?!('8!)!;L / 01!L 4/ 56E
! ! !
(!+,-./012!L4 / 56! ! ! ! ! ! ! ('*&!)!910:;.!</=1!
YZ>?F!WB1;K/!(8&&>!VK,01.6;:!F<#*73(>!6JK!7(*&!<1:1;6 1.!! &'#&!) !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! %'*&!)!910:;.!</=1!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! %'%&!)!Y./K!BP;,K!
3;::;6-!@(&!QR! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Figure 4.27: settings of mooring ID2 on the moat of the Isfjorden sediment drift'!
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
42!
IXSEA OCEANO 2500 S Universal AR861B2S: this is a field-proven, reliable, and versatile
mooring instrument by IXSEA. The 2500 Universal is made of super duplex stainless steel.
Acoustic status reply includes tilt and battery voltage.
Key-Specifications include:
Release Load 2500 kg
Minimum breaking load 10000 kg
Depth rating 6000 meters
Battery Life up to 4 years (alkaline) @ 20 deg C
EDGETECH 8242XS: the acoustic release 8242 is a field-proven, reliable, and versatile
mooring instrument by Edgetech. The 8242XS is made entirely of Nickel Aluminum Bronze
alloy with titanium closure hardware for very long deployments with no corrosion. Acoustic
status reply includes tilt and release state.
Key-Specifications include:
Release mechanism Spring driven rotary type with advantage hook
Release load rating 5,500 kg central axis loading
Depth rating 6000 meters
Replaceable Alkaline Batteries lasting 2 years / 100,000 replies.
Currentmeters
RCM4 and RCM8 are single point current-meters by Aanderaa. Meters RCM4 are designed
for depths down to 2000m, while RCM8 for 6000m. The current meter consists of a recording
unit and vane assembly which is equipped with a rod that can be shackled into the mooring line.
This arrangement permits the instrument to swing freely and align with the current. The
recording unit contains all sensors, the measuring system, battery and a detachable, reusable
solid state data storage unit (DSU).
Meters comprise:
- Savonius rotor magnetically coupled to an electronic counter - the number of revolutions
during the sampling interval giving the average current speed over the interval - starting
speed 2 cm/s, range 2.5 to >250cm/s, accuracy greater of 1 cm/s or 2 per cent;
- Vane, which aligns instrument with current flow, has a balance weight ensuring static
balance and tail fins to ensure dynamic balance in flows up to 250cm/s;
- Magnetic compass, direction recorded with 0.35° resolution, 5° accuracy for speeds 5 to
100cm/s, 7.5° accuracy for remaining speeds within 2.5 to 200cm/s range, maximum
compass tilt (i.e. maximum deviation of the meter from the horizontal at which the meter
still registers correctly) is 12° in both pitch and roll axes;
- Quartz clock, accuracy better than 2 sec/day within temperature range 0 to 20°C;
- Thermistor (temperature sensor), range -2.46 to 21.48°), accuracy 0.15°C for RCM4 and
0.05° for RCM8, resolution 0.1 per cent of range;
- Self balancing potentiometer which converts the output from each sensor into a 10 bit
binary number for storage on magnetic tape;
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
43!
- Associated electronics;
- Recording system by DSU mod. 2990E; max data stored, 43600 records of all channels.
RCM9 and RCM11: they are single point current-meters by Aanderaa. Meters RCM9 are
designed for depths down to 1000m, while RCM11 for 6000m. Respect to the RCM4 this
instrument has an acoustic sensor to determinate current velocity. Current meters are protected
by a mooring frame with sensor protecting ring.
Meters comprise:
- Acoustic Doppler sensor; instrument sends out 600 ping during each recording interval
obtaining an accuracy of 0.15 cm/s;
- Magnetic compass, direction recorded with 0.35° resolution, 5° accuracy for speeds 5 to
100cm/s, 7.5° accuracy for remaining speeds within 2.5 to 200cm/s range, maximum
compass tilt (i.e. maximum deviation of the meter from the horizontal at which the meter
still registers correctly) is 12° in both pitch and roll axes;
- Recording system by DSU mod. 2990E; max data stored,43600 records of all channels.
Teledyne RDI ADCP BB150: the RDI self contained BroadBand ADCP is a current profiler
able to acquire current velocity at different depths using the doppler effect.
Single ping accuracy: 1 cm/s @ 16 m depth cell
Maximum profiling range 230 m (300 m @ high power mode)
Minimum range to start of first depth cell 4 m
Number of depth cells: 1 to 128
Depth cell size: 5 to 3200 cm
Heading accuracy: 5 deg
Tilt accuracy: 1 deg
Temperature accuracy: 0.5 deg
Conductivity and Temperature sensors
Seabird SBE 37-SM: the SBE 37-SM MicroCAT is a high-accuracy moored conductivity and
temperature recorder. It is equipped with a internal-field conductivity cell and a pressure
protected thermistor, within a titanium housing. The Measurement range, accuracy, stability and
resolution are described in Table 4.5. The MicroCATs are programed with 900 seconds sample
interval.
Table 4.5: Sensor specifications of the SBE 37-SM MicroCATs. Data source
Measurement
Range
Initial
Accuracy
Typical
Stability
Resolution
Conductivity
0 to 7 S/m
(0 to 70 mS/cm)
± 0.0003 S/m
(0.003 mS/cm)
0.0003 S/m
(0.003 mS/cm)
per month
0.00001 S/m
(0.0001 mS/cm)
Temperature
(°C)
-5 to 45
± 0.002 (-5 to 35 °C);
± 0.01 (35 to 45 °C)
0.0002 per month
0.0001
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
44!
SBE 16plus V2: the SBE 16plus V2 conductivity and temperature recorder is self-powered
and self-contained, for depths up to 10,500 meters. The 16plus V2 records data at programmable
intervals in 64 Mbyte FLASH RAM and can be commanded to sample and output data for
telemetry applications. The 16plus V2 includes six differentially amplified A/D input voltage
channels and one RS-232 channel for auxiliary sensors. A standard RS-232 interface is used for
programming, telemetry output, and data extraction. The SBE 16plus V2 uses the same
temperature and conductivity sensors of MicroCATs.
Table 4.6: Sensor specifications of the SBE 16plus V2 MicroCATs
Measurement
Range
Initial
Accuracy
Typical
Stability
Resolution
Conductivity
(S/m)
0 - 9
± 0.0005
0.0003/month
0.00005 typical
Temperature
(°C)
-5 to +35
± 0.005
0.0002/month
0.0001
The deployed instrument has a titanium housing for depths down to 7000m, a submersible
pump SBE 5T and a turbidity sensor.
SBE 5T has a centrifugal pump head, a titanium housing (10,500m depth) and a long-life,
brushless, DC, ball-bearing motor. The pump impeller and electric drive motor are coupled
magnetically through the housing, providing high reliability by eliminating moving seals.
The Seapoint Turbidity Meter detects light scattered by particles suspended in water,
generating an output voltage proportional to turbidity or suspended solids. Water depth
capability, 6000 m; range 100 x gain or 0-25 FTU; sensitivity, 200 mV/FTU; offset voltage is <
1 mV of zero; sensing volume < 5 cm from sensor.
Temperature Logger SBE 56: the SBE 56's pressure-protected thermistor has a 0.5 second
time constant, providing excellent accuracy (initial accuracy 0.002 °C) and resolution when fast
sampling at 2 Hz (0.5 sec). It has exceptional stability; drift is typically less than 0.002 °C per
year.
The SBE 56 is equipped with 64 MB memory, high-accuracy real time clock, plastic housing
for depths up to 1500 meters, and USB 2.0 interface. Calibration coefficients are stored in
memory; the included easy-to-use Java-based software (compatible with nearly any computer
operating system) uploads the raw data, applies the coefficients, and outputs and plots finished
data in degrees C and date and time.
Sediment trap
Parflux Mark 7G-21 sediment trap by McLane Research Lab was designed to collect a series
of settling particle samples in the deep ocean for the purpose of measuring the seasonal or time-
series variability of particle fluxes (Tab. 4.7).
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
45!
Characteristics in the design include (Fig. 4.28):
- the titanium frame and extensive use of advanced engineering plastics, which prevent
contamination of samples by corrosion;
- funnel aperture of 0.5 m
2
(diameter, 80 cm) with a polycarbonate baffle (aspect ratio, 2.5)
- 21 sampling bottles with individual seals in the rotary mechanism
- a time-series control system and an electronic stepper motor
Table 4.7: time series measurements
Bottle
Start
Stop
Sampling
days
1
15/6/2014 0:01
1/7/2014 0:01
16
2
1/7/2014 0:01
16/7/2014 0:01
15
3
16/7/2014 0:01
1/8/2014 0:01
16
4
1/8/2014 0:01
16/8/2014 0:01
15
5
16/8/2014 0:01
1/9/2014 0:01
16
6
1/9/2014 0:01
16/9/2014 0:01
15
7
16/9/2014 0:01
1/10/2014 0:01
15
8
1/10/2014 0:01
1/11/2014 0:01
31
9
1/11/2014 0:01
1/12/2014 0:01
30
10
1/12/2014 0:01
1/1/2015 0:01
31
11
1/1/2015 0:01
1/2/2015 0:01
31
12
1/2/2015 0:01
1/3/2015 0:01
28
13
1/3/2015 0:01
16/3/2015 0:01
15
14
16/3/2015 0:01
1/4/2015 0:01
16
15
1/4/2015 0:01
16/4/2015 0:01
15
16
16/4/2015 0:01
1/5/2015 0:01
15
17
1/5/2015 0:01
16/5/2015 0:01
15
18
16/5/2015 0:01
1/6/2015 0:01
16
19
1/6/2015 0:01
15/6/2015 0:01
14
20
15/6/2015 0:01
1/7/2015 0:01
16
21
1/7/2015 0:01
21/7/2015 0:01
20
Rigging
Ropes of 10-12 mm diameter with a
braided Kevlar core and a protective mantle
where used for the rigging of all moorings.
The individual sections of the S1 mooring
where connected with Rapide Maillon
stainless steel quick-links (Fig. 4.29). On
the ID1 and ID2 moorings stainless steel
shackles where used and all steel
connections on all moorings where backed
up with Spectra loops.
!
Figure 4.29: Rapide Maillon stainless steel quick-
links
!
Figure 4.28: Sediment trap deployed at
mooring site S1.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
46!
4.4.2 Moorings’ deployment
The moorings were set at sea
during the first days of the cruise.
Deployment sites were surveyed
by multibeam for bathymetric
and depth details and a CTD
measurement was made in place.
The moorings deployment
occurred from the back of the
ship, starting with the top buoys
and ending with the anchor
weights. During deployment the
ship kept a slow pace to tension
the mooring lines (Fig. 4.30).
Ones the anchor weights were
lowered to water level the ship
moved to the site location and the anchor was released from the crane. The pull of the anchor
ensured the mooring to sink down in a straight line.
Triangulation and echosounder check
After mooring deployment at stations ID1 and ID2, a set of 3 measurements at about 1000 m
distance in 3 different positions were made to verify the correct positioning of the moorings
(triangulation, Fig. 4.31).
Figure 4.30: Deployment of mooring S1.
!! !
! !
Figure 4.31: Triangulation at ID1(top) and ID2 (bottom) mooring stations.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
47!
For this, we used the TT801 and the Teledyne Universal Deck Box UDB-9000 deck unit to
interrogate the releaser, obtaining the distance from the transducer to the releaser. From these
measurements, we verified the estimated mooring positions of ID1 and ID2 of 105 m NW and
257 m NW respectively from the predefined location as consequence of the strong water column
currents observed during deployment. The ADCP data collected during the deployment confirm
a current (ADCP data cover about half of the column) of about 0.35-0.50 m/s in NW direction
(330) perfectly compatible with the shifted position verified by triangulation (Fig. 4.32). In
addition, the ship crossed the site to detect the mooring with the on board echo-sounder to
confirm the correct vertical position of the different components (Fig. 4.33).
Figure 4.32: ADCP record collected during deployment.
!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!Site!ID1!
!
!
!
!!Site!ID2!
Figure 4.33: The images confirm the vertical position in the water column. Aside, the ship track-log of the
echo sounder confirms the triangulated positions.!
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
!
48
4.5 Acoustic survey
(A.$Caburlotto,$J./S.$Laberg,$and$R.G.$Lucchi)$
The acoustic survey included multibeam swath bathymetry and sub-bottom profiler
acquisition. Multibeam bathymetry was acquired employing a Kongsberg Maritime EM 302 30
kHz multibeam echosounder, with a depth range of 10 – 7000 m. During the survey the seabed
was scanned with a full beam angle of 100 degree (50 degrees on each side of the survey track)
giving a seafloor survey amplitude of ca 3000 m across track at 1000 m water depth. Each site
survey was combined with a local CTD measurement for sonic-velocity calibration that will be
used during shore based data processing. Sub-bottom profiles were acquired employing a
TOPAS, PS018 Parametric sub-bottom profiler. The data were interpreted during the cruise for
Calypso Cores location and definition of mooring sites sea floor characteristics and depth.
Four sites were surveyed with water depth ranging 1300 – 1700 m bsl: 2 sites for Calypso
piston cores (stations BD and ID1), surveyed with 2 cross lines of multibeam and TOPAS of
approximately 6 – 7 nm; and 2 sites for Moorings (stations S1 and ID2), were surveyed with 2
multibeam cross lines of approximately 6 – 7 nm. The cross lines were run along-slope and
down-slope, having an approximate orientation NW-SE and NE-SW.
Due to sonic interferences between instruments, the morpho-bathymetry (MBES) and sub-
bottom (SBP) surveys were run separately. MBES and SBP data were not processed on board.
4.5.1 Bellsund Drift
The along-slope sub-bottom profile (Fig. 4.34) is characterized by acoustically laminated
sedimentary deposits having deep acoustic penetration, up to 70 ms TWT in the northern part,
over the contouritic drift. Conversely, the south-eastern area is characterised by poor penetration
due to the occurrence of a large buried gravity mass deposits (transparent wedge on the profile).
!
Figure 4.34: Along-slope sub-bottom profile
across site BD (Bellsund Drift)
NW SE
!
Figure 4.35: Down-slope sub-bottom
profile across site BD (Bellsund Drift)!
NE SW
2 km
GS191-01PC
GS191-01PC
2 km
50 ms
TWT
50 ms
TWT
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
!
49
The down-slope profile (Fig 4.35) confirm high penetration of some 60-70 ms TWT in the
northern part, where the plastered drift develop, whereas in the south-eastern area, at the base of
the continental slope, is characterized by little penetration for the presence of 2 large buried
debris flows/gravity flows.
4.5.2 Isfjorden Drift
The along-slope profile (Fig. 4.36) is characterized by acoustically-laminated deposits with
high sonic penetration, up to 70 ms TWT. Small, buried gravity mass deposits (lens shaped
transparent bodies) occur at approximately 10 ms TWT below the seafloor.
The down-slope profile (Fig. 4.37) show a penetration
from 20 up to70 ms TWT. The seafloor and sub-bottom
reflectors show a concave downward geometry,
indicative of the plastered contouritic drift. No debris
flows/gravity flows are observed.
!
Figure 4.36: Along-slope sub-bottom profile
across site ID1 (Isfjorden Drift).!
NW SE
!
Figure 4.37: Along-slope sub-
bottom profile across site ID1
(Isfjorden Drift).!
!
NE SW
GS191-02PC
2 km
2 km
GS191-02PC
50 ms
TWT
50 ms
TWT
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
50!
4.6 Bottom Sampling
(C. Morigi, K. Husum, K. Mezgec, E. Ponomarenko, M. Łacka, J.-S. Laberg, A. Caburlotto, D.I.
Blindheim and R.G. Lucchi)
Sediment bottom sampling were
performed employing a Calypso piston
corer (barrel 21.4 m-long with plastic
liner inner diameter of 100 mm, and 3000
kg of full load) for the recovery of two
long stratigraphic sequences at the crest of
the Bellsund and Isfjorden sediment
drifts, and a box corer (30x30x50 cm steel
box) for the recovery of the uppermost
part of the sedimentary record including
the water-sediment interface for the
characterization of sea bottom recent and
modern environmental characteristics
(Fig. 4.38). The box cores were located
also at the mooring’s sites in order to
verify the sea floor characteristics for
moorings deployment in addition to the modern oceanographic and environmental characteristics
inferred from the sediments.
4.6.1 Box Cores
A total of 5 sites were cored with the box corer (Tab. 4.8, site location in Appendix E). Two
consecutive attempt of coring failed at Site S1 and only a smear of coarse sediments remained
inside the steel box after the second attempt (core GS191-03BC). The coring operation failed also
the first attempt at site ID2 located in the moat of the Isfjorden sediment drift, whereas the second
attempt recovered a small volume of coarse sediments with large pebbles (core GS191-05BC).
Table 4.8: Box cores (location in Appendix E).
Box core
ID
water
depth
(m)
Latitude N
longitude E
location
max
recovery
(cm)
GS191-01BC
263
76,34334
18,74275
St. 7, Storfjorden Shelf
24
GS191-02BC
1647
76,52167
12,73833
Crest Bellsund Drift (Calypso 01)
25
GS191-03BC
1046
76,43617
13,94233
Coarse sediments (Mooring S1)
-
GS191-04BC
1322
77,58917
10,09159
Crest Isfjorden Drift (Calypso 02)
29
GS191-05BC
1038
77,64602
10,28159
Moat Isfjorden Drift (Mooring ID2)
gravel
Preliminary investigation of sediments
Each box core surface was visually logged before sediment sub-sampling. One of the plastic
liners used for sub-sampling was previously cut longitudinally in order to easily split the section for
photographs and down-core detailed sediment description (Fig. 4.39a, b, c, e). The splitted half
! !
Figure 4.38: The Calypso and Box cores employed
during the PREPARED cruise.
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
51!
sections were then furthermore sub-sampled at 1 cm resolution and the sub-samples wet weighted
and stored at 4 °C (Tab. 4.9).
GS191-01BC_a
GS191-01BC_b
GS191-02BC_a
GS191-02BC_b
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
0-1.5
23
0-1.5
10
0-1.5
14
0-1.5
21
1.5-3
31
1.5-3
28
1.5-3
21
1.5-3
38
3-4
31
3-4
23
3-4
23
3-4
37
4-5
34
4-5
26
4-5
27
4-5
34
5-6
38
5-6
28
5-6
25
5-6
39
6-7
40
6-7
26
6-7
24
6-7
33
7-8
30
7-8
25
7-8
27
7-8
37
8-9
47
8-9
21
8-9
22
8-9
35
9-10
51
9-10
26
9-10
33
9-10
41
10-11
43
10-11
31
10-11
28
10-11
37
11-12
29
11-12
30
11-12
26
11-12
37
12-13
36
12-13
31
12-13
28
12-13
33
13-14
39
13-14
28
13-14
34
13-14
37
14-15
42
14-15
22
14-15
27
14-15
33
15-16
44
15-16
31
15-16
28
15-16
30
16-17
41
16-17
27
16-17
25
16-17
39
17-18
42
17-18
23
17-18
26
17-18
34
18-19
25
18-19
25
18-19
17
18-19
44
19-20
36
19-20
18
19-20
18
19-20
42
20-21
80
20-21
34
20-21
18
20-21
33
21-22
35
21-22
34
21-22
40
GS191-01BC_a
GS191-01BC_b
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
depth
(cm)
wet
weight
(g)
Table 4.9: wet weight of box cores GS191-01BC, -
02BC, -04BC sub-samples.
0-1
28
0-1
18
1-2
22
1-2
17
2-3
33
2-3
35
3-4
19
3-4
28
4-5
24
4-5
25
5-6
20
5-6
30
6-7
27
6-7
28
7-8
21
7-8
30
8-9
32
8-9
34
9-10
24
9-10
38
10-11
27
10-11
37
11-12
34
11-12
33
12-13
31
12-13
37
13-14
23
13-14
35
14-15
29
14-15
34
15-16
26
15-16
34
16-17
29
16-17
37
17-18
27
17-18
37
18-19
33
18-19
38
19-20
26
19-20
29
20-21
28
20-21
26
21-22
43
21-22
23
22-23
37
22-23
45
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
52!
Figure 4.39a: Sediment lithological description of Box core GS191-01BC
5 cm
Observers: R.G. Lucchi, C. Morigi Date: 07-06-2014, h.15:06
Core GS191-01BC (st. # 7) Sediment recovery: 22 cm
Coordinates: 76°,34334 N - 18°,74275 E Water depth: 262.8 m
Cruise EUROFLEETS-2 PREPARED, R/V G.O. Sars, 05-15 June, 2014
LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION
SEDIM.
STRUCT.
Lithology
PHOTO
SURFACE SEDIMENT
DESCRIPTION
Soupy jelly-like soft sediments
Silty-clay, slightly mounded
surface with black tube of worms
0-2 cm dark-brown silty clay
soupy surface
2-22 cm darl gray silty clay
with abundant black mottles
at 11 cm large mottle
silty
clay
depth (cm)
Black tube with worm (glass 2.5 cm-large)
10
20
30
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
53!
Figure 4.39b: Sediment lithological description of Box core GS191-02BC
5 cm
VOID
Observers: R.G. Lucchi, C. Morigi Date: 08-06-2014, h. 20:43
Core GS191-02BC (st. BD) Sediment recovery: 22 cm
Coordinates: 76°, 52167 N - 12°,73833 E Water depth: 1647 m
Cruise EUROFLEETS-2 PREPARED, R/V G.O. Sars, 05-15 June, 2014
LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION
SEDIM.
STRUCT.
Lithology
PHOTO
SURFACE SEDIMENT
DESCRIPTION
Soft brown silt and silty clay
with >1 mm-large pyrgo
(benthic forams) and elongated
agglutinated forams
A rounded void located at the
margin of the box core may be
caused by earlier coring with
Calypso corer
Very cold sediments!
0-4 cm soft soupy brown silt and
silty clay
4-6 cm dark-brown silty clay
6-9 cm light-gray silty clay
9-10 cm dark-brown silty clay
10-14 cm light-brown/yellowish silty clay
14-22 cm light-gray silty clay
The whole section is bioturbated
silty
clay
depth (cm)
10
20
30
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
54!
Figure 4.39 c: Sediment lithological description of Box core GS191-04BC
5 cm
Observers: R.G. Lucchi, C. Morigi Date: 10-06-2014, h.15:42
Core GS191-04BC (st. ID1) Sediment recovery: 29 cm
Coordinates: 77°,58917N - 10°,09159E Water depth: 1323 m
Cruise EUROFLEETS-2 PREPARED, R/V G.O. Sars, 05-15 June, 2014
LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION
SEDIM.
STRUCT.
Lithology
PHOTO
SURFACE SEDIMENT
DESCRIPTION
Very soft brown clayly silt with
sea stars, sparse IRD,
elongated agglutinated forams.
1 possible Cornuspiroides
striolatus 1.5 cm-large.
Large pyrgos
Disturbed surface by coring
0-2 c m soft soupy brown mud
2-5 c m soft, brown mud with IRD
6-8 c m large burrow
5-23 c m gray soft mud
Bioturbations all over the section
silty
clay
depth (cm)
Cornuspiroides striolatus
10
20
30
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
55!
Figure 4.39d: Sediment lithological description of Box core GS191-05BC
Sediment surface samples: Core GS191-01BC, is
characterised by a calcareous benthic foraminiferal
microfauna more diversified and rich than the other two
surface intervals of the 02BC and 04BC. In particular,
we identified Nonionella turgida and N. labradorica,
together with Elphidium spp. The surface of core 02BC,
is draped by big agglutinated, uniserial species. We
identified Hyperammina subnodosa (Fig. 4.40) and
Reophax spp. These taxa are known to live in sea floor
environments characterized by strong bottom currents.
Soft-walled monothalamous benthic foraminifera were
also found.
Two additional surface samples from the upper 2 cm
of box cores 01BC and 02BC were analyzed onboard to
estimate the ratio of planktonic Vs benthic foraminifera
as index of continent vicinity Vs pelagic input. A
minimum of 100 tests were counted for each sample
(Tab. 4.10). As core 02BC is much deeper than core
01BC, we expected to have more planktonic
foraminifera in the former than the shallower one.
Instead, the Planktonic/benthic ratio resulted higher in station 02BC. The surprisingly small amount
5 cm
Observers: R.G. Lucchi, C. Morigi Date: 10-06-2014, h.21:28
Core GS191-05BC (st. ID2) Sediment recovery: -
Coordinates: 77°,64602N - 10°,28159E Water depth: 1038 m
Cruise EUROFLEETS-2 PREPARED, R/V G.O. Sars, 05-15 June, 2014
SURFACE SEDIMENT
DESCRIPTION
Brown clayly sandy silt with
abundant IRD up to 7 cm-large
Box-corer almost empty
!
!
Figure 4.40: Hyperammina subnodosa,
a) residue b) specie detail!
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
56!
of planktonic foraminifera at site 02BC could be related to bottom currents derived from the
shallow areas either associated to meltwaters or other type of bottom current formation, whereas
site 01BC, although shallower, appears less affected by this type of currents.
Table 4.10: Planktonic Vs benthic foraminifera.
Box core ID
Water
depth (m)
Wet
weight (g)
Dry weight
(g)
Planktonic
foraminifera/ g dry
sediments
P/B
GS191-01BC
263
51
19.5
403
5.25
GS191-02BC
1647
41
18.5
128
1.15
On the sediment surface of core GS191 04BC, we found a very
rare giant benthic foraminifera: the Miliolid, Cornuspiroides
striolatus (Brady, 1882) (Fig. 4.41). As reported by Schmiedl &
Mackensen (1993) this species is passive suspension feeders leaving
in low bottom current environment.
The sediment sub-samples of box core GS191-01BC were also
investigated for the down-core qualitative micropaleontological
content and the results are reported in Table 4.11.
Table 4.11: Qualitative paleontological content of core GS191-01BC.
GS19 -01 BC 1-2 cm 2-3 cm 3-4 cm 5-6 cm 19-21 cm
Bolivina pseudopunctata 2 1 1 2 2
Buccella sp. 2 2 2 2 3
Cassidulina neoteretis 1 1 1 1 3
Cassidulina reniforme 2 2 2 2 5
Cibicides lobatulus 1 1 1 1 3
Elphidium asklundi 1 1 1 1 3
Elphidium excavatum f. clavata 3 3 3 2 5
Elphidium hallandense 1 1 1 2 4
Haynesina orbiculare 1 2 1 1 4
Islandiella helenae 2 2 2 2 4
Islandiella norcrossi 2 2 2 2 1
Glandulina sp. ? 2 1 2 1 2
Lagena spp. 1 1 1 1 2
Melonis barleanus 1 1 1 1 4
Nonionellina labradorica 2 2 1 1 5
Nonionella turgida 1 1 1 2 2
Pyrgo williamsoni 1 1 1 2 1
Quinqueloculina seminulum 1 1 1 2 2
Quinqueloculina stalkeri 1 1 1 1 2
Stainforthia fusiformis 1 1 1 3 3
Adercotryma glomerata 1 2 3 1 3
Alveophragmium crassimargo 4 3 4 3 1
Recuvoides tubinatus 2 1 1 2 1
Reophax sp. 2 3 1 1 2
Saccaminae sp.? (agglut. and only 1 chamber) 3 2 2 2 1
Textularia earlandi 3 1 3 2
Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sin) 2 1 1 2 2
KEY: 1=absent; 2=rare; 3=less common; 4=common; 5=abundant; 6=very abundant
Notes: 1-2 cm: very abundant red grains and common worm tubes
2-3 cm: very abundant red grains and worm tubes
3-4 cm: very abundant quartz grains and common red stained grains
5-6 cm: abundant pellets and some worm tubes
19-21 cm: abundant pellets and worm tubes
!
Figure 4.41: Cornuspiroides
striolatus (Brady, 1882)
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
57!
Box core sub-sampling procedure
In addition to the sub-sampling for onboard preliminary compositional analyses of the
sediments, routine sub-sampling was performed for shore-based sedimentological,
micropalaeontological, biological, geochemical and biochemical purposes for which all of the
samples were stored at +4°C or -20°C according to the protocol foreseen for the specific shore-
based analysis (Tables 5.1 and 5.2 and Fig. 4.42). A schematic description of the methods for sub-
sampling and type of analyses of the sediments are indicated as follow:
- Living Foraminifera, geochemical and
biochemical analyses: 2 cores with a 3.6 cm
diameter (surface area ~10 cm2) and one core
with 11 cm (surface area ~95 cm2) were sub-
sampled from each box core. Pseudo-replicates
for each box-corer station were frozen at -20°C.
- Recent Foraminifera analyses and grain size
analysis: 1 core was open and sampled onboard.
The two sections were sampled at 1-cm thick
layers to a depth of 20 cm. Each slice was
weighted, washed and dried on board with a 63
µm sieve.
- Mg/Ca analysis on recent foraminifera: 1 Falcon
50 ml was collected for each box-core and frozen
at -20°C.
- Proteins of benthic foraminifera: 1 Falcon 15 ml was collected for each box-core, the residues
was washed with a 125 µm sieve and frozen at -20°C.
- Organic matter analyses: 1 spoon of the surface sediment (0-2 cm) was stored in a petri dish
and frozen at -20°C.
- Biodiversity and stable isotope analyses on foraminiferal tests: 2 plastic vials of surface
sediments (0-2 cm) treated with Rose Bengala.
- Sedimentological, compositional and palaeomagnetic analyses: 2 cores for each deployment
were recovered and cooled at +4°C.
4.6.2 Calypso piston cores
Two Calypso piston cores were collected at the crest of the Bellsund and Isfjorden sediment
drifts thought to contain an expanded stratigraphic sequence necessary for high-resolution
palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the past climatic oscillations (Tab. 4.12).
Table 4.12: Calypso piston cores (location in Appendix F)
Calypso
core ID
water
depth
(m)
Lat. N
Long. E
location
Sediment
recovery
(m)
No. of
section
% of
recovery
GS191-01PC
1647
76,52167
12,73833
Crest Bellsund Drift
19.67
21
91.92
GS191-02PC
1322
77,58917
10,09159
Crest Isfjorden Drift
17.37
19
80.79
!
Figure 4.42: Sampling of box cores
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
58!
The 21.4 m-long plastic liner was cut into 1-m sections and labelled with sequential alphabetic
letter on the extraction from the Calypso core barrel (letter A being the deeper section), and
subsequently converted into sequential numbers with the first section corresponding to the
uppermost part of the stratigraphic sequence (Tab. 4.13, and 4.14).
The sediments at the bottom of each section
were visually described and analysed for shear
strength properties using a pocket vane tester
equipped with vanes of different diameter
depending of the sediment stiffness. During the
PREPARED cruise we used vanes of medium
and large diameter (Fig. 4.43). Routine
samples were then collected at the bottom of
each section for preliminary
micropaleontological/stratigraphical
investigation.
Sediment description and shear strength analyses
Tables 4.13 and 4.14 resume the lithological characteristics of the sediments described at the
bottom of each piston core section, and report the length of each section and correspondent shear
strength raw values which down-core plots are reported in figure 4.44 obtained after shear strength
values conversion.
Table 4.13: Calypso core GS191-01PC, Bellsund Drift
Labeling
Section
No.
Length
(cm)
Shear
strength
Sediment lithology
GS191-01PC
(A)
21
100
7.5*
dark gray mud with black spots
GS191-01PC
(B)
20
100
8.8*
“
GS191-01PC
(C)
19
100
1.6^
“
GS191-01PC
(D)
18
100
2.0^
“
GS191-01PC
(E)
17
100
1.9^
“
GS191-01PC
(F)
16
90
1.2^
“
GS191-01PC
(G)
15
100
1.5^
“
GS191-01PC
(H)
14
100
1.0^
“
GS191-01PC
(I)
13
100
1.0^
gray mud
GS191-01PC
(J)
12
100
0.9^
gray mud with silt (silty laminae?)
GS191-01PC
(K)
11
100
0.6^
structureless gray mud
GS191-01PC
(L)
10
90
2.0*
gray mud with black silty patches
GS191-01PC
(M)
9
100
2.1*
“
GS191-01PC
(N)
8
76
-
same lithology as for sec M, upper 24 cm void
GS191-01PC
(O)
7
78
1.9*
same lithology as for sec N, lower 22 cm void
GS191-01PC
(P)
6
100
1.5*
gray mud with black silty patches
GS191-01PC
(Q)
5
100
1.2*
gray mud
GS191-01PC
(R)
4
90
0.5*
soft, soupy gray mud
GS191-01PC
(S)
3
100
0.5*
soupy gray mud
GS191-01PC
(T)
2
100
0.9*
soft gray clay with possibly forams (sands)
! ! !
Figure 4.43: shear strength analysis of sediments
with a) medium and b) large cones
R/V G.O. Sars, Cruise No. 191, Tromsø – Tromsø, June 05–15, 2014
!
59!
GS191-01PC
(U)
1
43
0.6*
“
Shear strength key: *large vane ^ medium vane
Table 4.14: Calypso core GS191-02PC, Isfjorden Drift
Labeling
Section
No.
Length
(cm)
Shear
strength
Sediment lithology
GS191-02PC
(A)
19
16
0.8*
dark gray mud with black patches
GS191-02PC
(B)
18
100
1.2*
“
GS191-02PC
(C)
17
100
1.8*
“
GS191-02PC
(D)
16
100
2.3*
“
GS191-02PC
(E)
15
100
2.5*
“
GS191-02PC
(F)
14
100
2.2*
“
GS191-02PC
(G)
13
77
0.8^
“
GS191-02PC
(H)
12
100
1.2^
“
GS191-02PC
(I)
11
100
1.0^
wet gray mud with few black patches
GS191-02PC
(J)
10
100
1.0^
wet gray mud with very few black patches
GS191-02PC
(K)
9
100
1.5^
structureless gray mud
GS191-02PC
(L)
8
100
1.2^
gray mud with silty mottles
GS191-02PC
(M)
7
92
1.5^
“
GS191-02PC
(N)
6
100
1.8^
gray wet mud
GS191-02PC
(O)
5
100
1.8^
structureless gray mud
GS191-02PC
(P)
4
100
1.5^
structureless gray clay
GS191-02PC
(Q)
3
100
1.7^
clay with black silt
GS191-02PC
(R)
2
100
1.7^
gray clay
GS191-02PC
(S)
1