Notification of research vessel: BIO Hespérides Oceanographic cruise MOC2-Ecuatorial

April-May 2010

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Part A

1. Ship’s name: BIO Hespérides

2. Working period (planned): 2 April to 16 de May 2010

3. Research organization: Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, CSIC

4. Operator and owner (if different): Spanish oceanographic research vessel. Belongs and is operated by the Spanish Navy (Defense Ministry). The scientific management of the ship is carried out by an inter-ministerial commission (Comisión de Coordinación y Seguimiento de las Actividades de Buques Oceanográficos), and the management of its scientific equipments are carried out by the Unidad de Tecnología Marina of the National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación).

5. Ship’s characteristics: Flag: Spanish Type of ship: Oceanographic Research VesselYear and country of construction: 1992, Spain Length/width: 82,5 m / 14,30 m Draft at full load: 4.42 m Displacement at full load: 2.665,6 Tm Maximum speed: 14,7 knots Range: 12000 nautical miles (at 12 knots) Main engine: 2 x electric engines 1400 kW power at 220 rpm Four groups of diesel generators (two at 1300 kW and two at 750 kW) Emergency diesel generator Propeller: 5 fixed blades Rudder: Schilling Vectwin Navigation: 2 x radars ARPA ECDIS. Dynamic positioning 2 x DGPS Communications: GMDSS, Fleet 77

6. Crew:

52 crew 37 scientists and tehcnicians

7. Researchers: Name and address of principal investigator:

Dr. José Luís Pelegrí LlopartInstituto de Ciencias del MarPasseig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-4908003 BarcelonaSpain

Phones: +34 932309514, +34 9323094500 Fax: +34 932309555Email: pelegri@icm.csic.es

8. Geographic area where the ship will operate (specifying latitude and longitude): The area covers the equatorial Atlantic from 4ºS until 8.5ºN, and from the coast of South America until the coast of Africa. Figure 1 shows a cruise map with the route to follow, with continuous lines indicating those transects to carry out hydrographic sections and dashed lines for those transects between the hydrographic sections.

Figure 1. General map of the MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise path. The continuous lines indicate those transects with hydrographic stations and the dashed lines correspond to navigation

transects with continuous measurements.

9. Summary description of the cruise’s purpose:

The MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise is the main field activity of subproject “Climate ocean’s memory: mechanisms and routes of formation of surface waters in the equatorial Atlantic” (MOC2-ECUATORIAL, with reference code CTM2008-06438-C02-01/MAR), which is one of the two subprojects that constitute the project entitled “Climate ocean’s memory: flux of intermediate waters in the Southern Ocean and their transformation into surface waters in the equatorial Atlantic” (MOC2, reference code CTM2008-06438-C02/MAR). The fundamental objective of project MOC2 is to investigate the transport and transformations experienced by intermediate waters during their trip from the Southern Ocean until they are incorporated to the surface waters of the equatorial Atlantic.

The MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise aims at carrying on interdisciplinary oceanographic measurements in the equatorial Atlantic, with an important hydrographic component. These measurements aim at finding out the characteristics of the transformation of intermediate into surface waters. They include a transatlantic section along 8.5ºN and complementary measurements in the eastern and western margins of the equatorial Atlantic. There will be about 300 hydrographic stations, with water samples in most of them. These water samples will be used for diverse biological and biogeochemical analyses. Further, in several stations there will be additional microstructure measurements and a total of 18 instrumented buoys will be deployed.

10. Dates and names of the embarking and disembarking ports: Embarking port: Fortaleza (Brazil), 2 April 2010 Disembarking port: Mindelo (Cabo Verde), 16 May 2010

11. Logistic requirements in embarking and disembarking ports:None.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Part B

1. Vessel’s name: BIO Hespérides

2. Working period (planned): 2 April to 16 May de 2010

3. Cruise’s objectives and general methodology to be used:

The MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise will carry out oceanographic measurements in the equatorial Atlantic, with an important hydrographic component. The measurements aim at finding out the magnitude and characteristics of those processes that transform intermediate into surface waters. The MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise has three parts, to be carried out in the following order:1- Three sections in the WESTERN margin of the equatorial and tropical Atlantic,

wit the purpose of studying the propagation of intermediate waters of intermediate origin along the western boundary current.

2- A ZONAL transatlantic section along 8.5ºN, hence repeating the International Geophysical Year section carried out in 1957 (Fuglister, 1960), later in 1993 as part of the WOCE experiment (Arhan et al., 1998), and more recently by scientists of the Shirhov Institute of Oceanology (Lappo et al., 2001). The double objective is to study the penetration of Antarctic intermediate waters into the North Atlantic and to examine the temporal evolution of the distributions of hydrographic properties in the north equatorial Atlantic during the last decades.

3- A grid of seven zonal sections in the EASTERN portion of the equatorial Atlantic, with the purpose of studying the vertical motions and the mixing processes that transform intermediate into surface waters.

Figure 1 schematically shows those sections with hydrographic stations (solid lines) and those navigation transects with continuous measurements (dashed lines). Figure 2 shows the route to be followed during the cruise to carry out the measurements. The cruise will start at Fortaleza (Brazil) on 2 April 2010 and conclude in Mindelo (Cabo Verde) on 16 May 2010, for a total of 45 days. In summary we will navigate 8380 nm (762 hours) with a total of some 285 hydrographic stations (318 hours). We will now present the different phases of the cruise. Table 1 presents a summary of the navigation and measurement transects to be carried out, while Table 2 present the estimated times for each phase.

Figure 2. General map of the MOC2-Ecuatorial cruise. The map shows the route to follow to reach the 8.5ºN transatlantic section, which constitutes the second part of the cruise.

Table 1. Transects, distances and number of stations for each part of the cruise.

Part Leg Distance (nautical miles)

Total navigation

Legs with stations

Number of stations

navigation, Fortaleza to 4ºS 300 300

1

4S (4ºS, 32 to 37.5ºW) 300

1420 900 30navigation 27000 (0º, 39.5 to 44.75ºW) 300navigation 2504N (4ºN, 45 to 50ºW) 300navigation 580 580

2 8.5N (8.5ºN, 58.5 to 15ºW) 2600 2600 2600 87navigation 430 430

3

2N 240

1920 1680 168

navigation 601N 240navigation 300.5N 240navigation 3000 240navigation 300.5S 240navigation 301S 240navigation 602S 240navigation to Mindelo 1130 1130

Total 8380 5180 285

Table 2. Times for navigation and at station for each part of the cruise.

Part Navegation (in hours), with the ship at 11 knots

Distance between stations (mn)

No. of stations

Mean depth of stations

(m)

Mean time at station

Time at stations (hours)

Total (hours)

navega 27 0 271 129 30 30 1500 (or sea

bottom)1,5 horas 45 174

navega 53 0 532 236 30 87 1500 (or sea

bottom)1,5 horas 130 366

navega 39 0 393 175 10 168 1000 50 min 143 318navega 103 0 103Total(hours)

762 318 1080

The first part of the cruise (WESTERN) consists of three zonal hydrographic sections of 300 nm each, to be carried out at 4ºS, oº and 4ºN, and continuous measurements in between these sections (Table 1). These zonal sections will be carried out moving westwards, hence with the easterly zonal winds, until reaching the continental platform. To carry out this first part of the cruise permission will be requested to the coastal country, Brazil. The measurements within the continental platform will be done beyond 24 nm but some of them within 200 nm from the coast. Figure 3 presents a map with more detail of the planned route.

During this first part the hydrographic stations will be done every 30 nm, from the sea surface to the sea bottom in all three zonal sections. The estimated mean time per station is 1.5 hours, although some will be shorter (over the platform) and others will be longer. In Table 2 we present the times required both for navigation and to do the hydrographic stations. In summary, in this first part of the cruise the ship will navigate about 1420 nm and will carry out some 30 hydrographic stations, with a total estimated time of 174 hours.

Figure 3. Map with the path to follow during the first part of the cruise.

The second part of the cruise (ZONAL) corresponds to the transatlantic section along 8.5ºN (Table 1). This section starts about 50 nm from the Venezuelan coast, just north of the border with Guyana. To carry out this first part of the cruise permission will be requested to the coastal country, Venezuela. Given the proximity of the border with Guyana the westernmost stations of this section if necessary would be moved a few minutes to the north. In the eastern margin the section will end about 100 nm from the African coast so permission will also be requested to the

African coastal country, Sierra Leona. A general view of the path to follow may be seen in Figure 2.

During this second part the hydrographic stations will be done every 30 nm, from the sea surface to the sea bottom, along the whole section (mean estimated time per station is 1.5 hours). Table 2 shows the times required for navigation and to do the hydrographic stations during this part of the cruise. In summary, the ship will navigate about 2600 nm and will carry out some 87 hydrographic stations, with a total estimated time of 366 hours.

Finally, the third part of the cruise (EASTERN) will take place in a grid of hydrographic stations as shown, for orientation purposes, in Figure 4. These are seven zonal sections of about 240 nm each, approximately centered at 20ºW and the equator. Durintg this part of the cruise the hydrographic stations will be done every 10 nm but only down to a depth of 1000 m (about 50 minutes per station). A portion of this grid may also be carried out with the CTD in yo-yo mode, with the ship steaming at about 2 knots. In this portion there would be no hydrographic stations, so that the required time would be the same as that for the hydrographic stations. In several locations of the grid there will be repeated profiles with a free-falling microprofiler, down to 400 m depth..

Table 2 presents the times dedicated to navigation and to do the hydrographic stations for this third part of the cruise. The transects and number of stations are approximate since the final measurements will depend on the instrumentation finally abailable in the vessel. In summary, during this part of the cruise we estimate to navigate 1920 nm and to carry out 168 hydrographic stations (or its equivalent in terms of yo-yo type measurements), with a total estimated time of 318 hours.

The type of measurements may be divided into three groups as summarised below. These will be accompanied by the continuous acquisition of meteorological data by the ship’s meteorological station, and of temperature images by the ship’s satellite acquisition system.

1. Continuous measurements- Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, ADCPThe ship’s ADCP will continuously measure ocean currents down to some 320 m during the whole cruise.- Thermosalinometer and fluorometerThese systems will take continuous measurements of surface temperature, salinity and fluorescence throughout the cruise.- Expendable Bathythermographs, XBTsDuring the cruise, in egions of special interest, we will launch XBTs down to 1000 m depth.

Figure 4. Approximate route to be followed during the third part of the cruise.

2. Hydrographic stationsThere will be a total of about 285 hydrographic stations. - Biochemical analysesWater samples at each station will be taken with a Rosette for 24 different depths. These samples will be used to determine inorganic nutrients, pH, alkalinity, particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, particulate and total organic phosporous.- Biological analysesChlorophyll and cytometry analyses will be carried out every two stations. Water samples of coccolitophorids will be taken to the Institut de Ciencies del Mar for counting and identification through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).- Clorofluorocarbons (CFCs)For stations along section 8.5ºN samples will be collected and prepared for posterior analyses of CFCs in the University of Bremen laboratories.- Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) and Lowered ADCP (LADCP)The ship’s CTD system will be deployed together with the Rosette to determine the vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. A LADCP will also be attached to the Rosette, in order to determine the vertical structure of the currents.- MicroprofilerIn the EASTERN grid a microprofiler will be used at selected stations in order to carry out microstructure and vertical mixing studies.- SalinometerThe ship’s salinometer will be used to calibrate the salinity measurements at each station along the 8.5ºN transect (WOCE standard) and in other slected stations.

2ºN

1ºN

0.5ºN

0º

0.5ºS

1ºS

2ºS

20ºW

- Oxygen calibrationIn most stations several selected water samples will be used to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen, that later will be used to calibrate the CTD oxygen sensor.

3. Deployment of instrumented buoysA total of 18 instrumented buoys, with salinity and temperature sensors, will be deployed.

4. Enclose a map on an adequate scale showing the geographic region where work is planned and the location of moorings (if any), as well as any other relevant information.

There will be no moorings. We next show a map with the planned measurements in the three hydrographic sections (4ºS, 0º and 4ºN) that enter in Brazil’s territorial waters. The solid lines correspond to those sections where hydrographic stations will be carried out every 30 nm. The solid lines correspond to those sections where hydrographic stations will be done approximately every 30 nm. The dashed lines indicate those transect in between the hydrographic transects, where only continuous measurements will be taken.

Figure 5. Measurements region within Brazil’s trerritorial waters and in the adjacent region. Solid lines indicate transects with hydrographic stations along 4ºS, 0º and 4ºN.

5. Type of samples to be taken (if any): Water samples at 24 different depths will be taken at each hydrographic station, from the sea surface to the sea bottom.

6. Details of moored equipments (if any): None.

7. Explosives (if any): None.

8. Details and references about:

a) Past and future cruises:

The research teams involved in this cruise have never done any research in the equatorial and tropical regions. The main study area for these teams has always been the eastern margin of the subtropical Atlantic Ocean. Some references of the work done in this area are the following:

Pastor, M.V, J.L. Pelegrí, A. Hernández-Guerra, J. Font, J. Salat, and M. Emelianov, 2008. Water and nutrient fluxes off northwest Africa, Cont. Shelf Res., 28, 915-936.

Sangrà, P., M. Auladell, A. Marrero-Díaz, J.L. Pelegrí, E. Fraile-Nuez, A. Rodríguez-Santana, J.M. Martín, E. Mason, and A. Hernández-Guerra, 2007. On the nature of oceanic eddies shed by the Island of Gran Canaria. Deep-Sea Res. I, 54, 687-709.

Pelegrí, J.L., A. Marrero-Díaz, and A.W. Ratsimandresy, 2006. Nutrient irrigation of the North Atlantic. Prog. Oceanogr., 70, 366-406.

Machín, F., A. Hernández-Guerra, and J.L. Pelegrí, 2006. Mass fluxes in the Canary Basin. Prog. Oceanogr., 70, 416-447.

Machín, F., J.L. Pelegrí, I. Láiz, A. Marrero-Díaz, and A.W. Ratsimandresy, 2006. Near-surface circulation in the southern Gulf of Cádiz. Deep-Sea Res. II, 53, 1161-1181.

Machín, F., and J. L. Pelegrí, 2006. The effect of the Canary Islands in the blockage and mixing of the North Atlantic eastern water masses. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, doi:10.1029/2005GL025048.

Sangrá, P., J. L. Pelegrí, J. Arístegui, I. Arregui, A. Hernández-Guerra, A. Marrero-Díaz, J. M. Martín, A. Martínez, A. W. Ratsimandresy, and A. Rodríguez-Santana, 2005. Life story of an anticyclonic eddy. J. Geophys. Res., 110, C03021, doi:10.1029/2004JC002526.

Pelegrí, J. L., J. Arístegui, L. Cana, M. González, A. Hernández-Guerra, S. Hernández-León, A. Marrero-Díaz, M. F. Montero, P. Sangrá, and M. Santana-Casiano, 2005: Coupling between the open ocean and the coastal upwelling region off Northwest Africa: Water recirculation and offshore pumping of organic matter. J. Mar. Syst., 54, 3-37.

Pelegrí, J. L., A. Marrero, A. Ratsimandresy, A. Antoranz, J. Cisneros, C. Gordo, D. Grisolía, A. Hernández-Guerra, I. Láiz, A. Martínez, G. Parrilla, P. Pérez-Rodríguez, A. Rodríguez-Santana, and P. Sangrá, 2005: Hydrographic cruises off northwest Africa: The Canary Current and the Cape Ghir region. J. Mar. Syst., 54, 39-63.

García-Muñoz, M., A. Antoranz, J. Arístegui, J. L. Pelegrí, and M. Torres, 2005: Phytoplankton distribution and exchange of carbon and nutrients off Cape Ghir (NW Africa), J. Mar. Syst., 54, 83-95.

b) Published data related to the planned cruise:

None. This is a new topic of research for the participating team, even new for the physical oceanography Spanish community.

9. Name and address of the researchers in the coastal country that have been contacted:

Janice Romaguera TrotteAdvisor for Foreign Relations and for the GOOS National CommitteeHydrography and Navigation DirectionBrazilian NavyRua Barão de Jaceguai, s/nNiterói, Rio de Janeiro24.048-900 – Brazil

Phone: +55 (21) 2189-3013Fax: +55 (21) 2189-3088Email: janice@dhn.mar.mil.br

10. Indicate the following:

a) Will the researchers of the coastal country be invited to visit the ship when it is at harbour? Yes. Further, we will be pleased to show the ship’s facilities to graduate students.

b) Will there be an observer of the coastal country during the oceanographic cruise?Yes, we offer one place for an observer of the coastal country. We hope that this cruise may serve as a starting point for future collaborations with an oceanographic research team from Brazil.

c) When and how will the data be made available to the coastal country?A digital copy of the data set will be made available to the coastal country at the end of the cruise.

11. Complete the following table (answering “yes” or “no”)

Distance to shoreList of research equipments to be used

Fishing research within the established limits

Research in the continental platform beyond the limits of the coastal country

Within 12 nautical miles

Between 12 and 50 nautical miles

Between 50 and 200 nautical miles

Rosette with 24 bottles

No Yes No Yes Yes

CTD system (conductivity-temperature-depth)

No Yes No Yes Yes

LADCP (Lowered Acoustic Doppler Profiler on the Rosette)

No Yes No Yes Yes

ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Profiler on the ship)

No Yes No Yes Yes

Continuous thermosalinometer and fluorometer

No Yes No Yes Yes

XBTs (Expandable Bathythermogrpahs)

No Yes No No Yes

Drifting instrumented buoys

No Yes No No Yes

Ondulating CTD (yo-yo mode)

No Yes No No Yes

Microprofiler No Yes No No Yes