The research programme of Belgica campaign 2014/14 aimed at assessing the different biogeochemical processes controlling the carbon and nitrogen cycles in oligotrophic N.E. Atlantic waters. These cycles are essential components of the ‘biological Carbon Pump' by which part of atmospheric carbon dioxide is transferred to the ocean's interior. Our approach is based on the use of dual nitrate isotope measurements (natural abundance and enrichment experiments) to disentangle these various nitrogen processes in the marine environment, and in particular the process of diazotrophy by which atmospheric N2 is introduced into the oceanic fixed nitrogen reservoir. This input of ‘new' nitrogen should stand in balance with the denitrification process by which nitrogen is lost from the oceanic system. There are indications that the intensity as well as the geographical distribution of diazotrophic activity has been underestimated till date, in general. It is of particular interest to better document diazotrophic activity at latitudes of 38°N and northward, areas for which only few data are available. During the cruise we studied the different biogeochemical processes acting on the marine N-cycle, including N2 fixation, nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+) and nitrite (NO2-) uptake, nitrification, along a north-south section through the Gulf of Biscaye to Cape Finisterre and further south in open ocean waters along the Iberian peninsula till about 38°30'N. In addition, the effect of iron limitation on the nitrogen fixation and the nitrification processes was investigated.

The objective of the DOS MARES project is twofold. First, we aim at understanding the effects of the atmospheric teleconnections between the Cantabrian Sea and the north-western Mediterranean Sea, and their impacts on the deep ecosystem, both pelagic and benthic. Second, we want to know in which way the transfer of the signal from the external forcings towards the deep ecosystem controls the community structure and the population dynamics. Thus, in March 2012 we deployed 6 mooring lines equipped with sediment traps and currentmeters in the Avilés and Gaviera canyons and the slope. In September 2012 the moorings were successfully recovered and redeployed again, and during this cruise DOSMARES BIOCANT3 they have been finally recovered and the 1-year monitoring effort finalised. In addition, CTD profiling has been performed to characterise the biological and physical structure of the water column (including the acquisition of discrete water samples), multicorers have been obtained to characterise the geochemical properties of surface sediments, and a multinet used to obtain macro- and meso-zooplankton community structure. Overall, data will allow to characterize the external forcings and abiotic conditions in the Cantabrian Sea, and thus establish the links between abiotic conditions, populations and pelagic and benthopelagic resources.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.

The objective of the project RADIALES, formulated in 1990, aims at “understanding and modelling the response of the marine ecosystem to the sources of temporal variability in oceanographic and planktonic components, particularly foccusing in those factors and processes affecting biological production and potentially altering the ecosystem services”. This project represents the oldest multidisciplinary ocean observation initiative still active in Spain.