The overall aim of the UKSOLAS project DOGEE-SOLAS is the parameterization of air-sea gas exchange, which is a currently a major uncertainty in global modelling. RRS Discovery cruise D320 thus was primarily concerned with the measurement of air-sea gas transfer velocities and some of the important physical parameters that influence them through contributing to near surface turbulence, and other processes. In brief, specific cruise objectives were: 1. Determine open ocean gas transfer velocities through a number of dual-tracer releases (3He & SF6). 2. Investigate the role of surfactant in gas exchange through a targeted surfactant release in conjunction with (1). 3. Determine CO2 fluxes and transfer velocities, and make associated hydrographic and turbulence related measurements from autonomous ASIS (Air-Sea Interaction Spar) buoys. 4. Measure air-sea fluxes of CO2, sensible heat, latent heat and momentum using the AUTOFLUX automated sensor array 5. Measure underway, total gas tension, dissolved O2, and CO2 to obtain independent air-sea gas exchange estimates. 6. Make covariance and gas budgeting estimates of air-sea gas exchange using intelligent profiling Lagrangian floats. 7. Independently determine DMS fluxes and gas transfer velocities for comparison with CO2 to examine the role of gas solubility in gas transfer. 8. Deploy a spar buoy (NOC) for measurement of wave heights and bubble properties 9. Record and measure whitecap coverage and wave breaking coincident with the air-sea flux measurements using ship mounted cameras 10. Record key meteorological variables 11. Quantify flow distortion biases in the direct flux measurements via the use of established models. 12. Make biogas, surfactant and bacterial measurements in the surface microlayer and in the uppermost metres of the ocean using surface microlayer samplers, a remotely operated catamaran, and a near surface sampler. 13. Deploy an autonomous powered profiler (ASIP) for turbulence-related measurements in the mixed layer. Objectives 1-12 were all met. Unfortunately, due to mechanical failure and loss of ASIP, objective 13 was not realised.

The aim of this cruise was to develop a better understanding of carbon cycling in the pelagic waters of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP). There were three objectives: 1) Turnaround moorings at the PAP Observatory; 2) Conduct a 1-D time series on the central station of a wide range of biogeochmical processes and to back this up with a mesoscale survey of key variables; 3) To trial the use of Autosub for mesoscale surveys in conjuction with the ship. All objectives were met, although the tops of the moorings were found to be missing probably due to fishing activity and the Autosub trials were incomplete due to vehicle failure. A full mesoscale survey was carried out using the ship and an eleven day time series at the central station was achieved. Friday 23 June [JD174] Scientific party met at 13:00 to agree work plans. The Master gave welcome & safety talk at 15:00. We sailed at 18:00 after a series of delays. The Chief Officer was discharged off sick and a replacement was travelling from Lincolnshire. On reaching Plymouth, the railway shut due to a suicide on the track. The replacement mate required taxi from Plymouth to Falmouth. One of the ship's cranes broken, compromising our ability to handling moorings. The ship's engineers worked flat out yesterday and today and managed to cannibalise parts from other cranes. On sailing we moved into the lee of Falmouth Bay to carry out ship's compass check and then deployed Autosub briefly to check its sensors were working. The sea-state was surprisingly benevolent considering how hard the wind had been blowing for previous 3 days. The skies were still very cloudy. Saturday 24 June [JD175] We made an easy passage with winds BF 3-4. The scientists were finding their sea-legs, with no major problems. An Emergency muster & life boat drill was run at 10:30. We had a discussion about Autosub mission and decide to work the central box at PAP for the first deployment.

SHOM oceanographic cruise

SHOM cruise between Falmouth and Brest

The objective of cruise DY039 was to service the moorings of the RAPID 26°N project that are deployed to monitor the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. For each mooring instruments were recovered, data were downloaded and instruments were redeployed. A number of CTDs were made to calibrate the instruments from the moorings. In addition to the standard instruments used in previous years on the RAPID array, biogeochemical instruments were deployed for the ABC Fluxes project, along with some additional temperature sensors and ADCPs for the MerMeed project. During passage from Southampton to Tenerife trial CTDs were completed in international waters. After a short port call in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, departing on the 26th October work commenced on the eastern boundary sub-array comprising of moorings EBH4, EBH4L, EBH3, EBH2, EBH1, EBH1L, EBHi, EB1 and EB1L. A lander was deployed alongside EBHi to provide delayed-mode data telemetry through timed data pod release. Work on the MAR sub-array commenced on 7th November at mooring MAR3. The other moorings in this sub-array (MAR3L, MAR1, MAR1L, MAR2 and MAR0) were all completed by 12th November. The NOG mooring was also recovered and redeployed as part of the MAR sub-array servicing. Mooring WB6 was serviced on 19th November before transiting to Nassau for customs clearance. The remaining western boundary sub-array moorings (WBADCP, WBAL, WB1, WB2, WB2L, WBH2, WB4 and WB4L) were serviced between the 22nd November and the 30th November before docking in Nassau on the 1st December.

This cruise was completed as part of the United Kingdom Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded RAPID Programme to monitor the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5ºN. The primary purpose was to service the Eastern Boundary and Mid-Atlantic ridge sections of the 26.5ºN mooring array. The Rapid-MOC array of moorings was deployed across the Atlantic to set up a pre-operational prototype system to continuously observe the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC). This array will be further refined and refurbished during subsequent years as part of the Rapid-WATCH programme. The instrumentation deployed on the array consists of a variety of CTD loggers, current meters, bottom pressure recorders, and Inverted Echo-sounders, which, combined with time series measurements of the Florida Current and wind stress estimates, can be used to determine the strength and structure of the MOC.

The objective of the cruise was to improve our understanding of biochemical processes in the near-surface and microlayer of the ocean. We examine gradients in major nutrient concentrations and cycling, production and consumption of key biogases and variability in biological communities between micro-layer, near -surface and deeper water, and between productive and oligotrophic waters along a transect from offshore oligotrophic to coastal upwelling waters off western Spain and Portugal. We also aimed to examine the influence of gradients in physical, biological and photochemical processes at or near the surface micro-layer on the transport of heat and bio-gases across the air-sea interface. Using near-real time satellite imagery of ocean colour in combination with continuous underway measurements of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence we identified a suitable oligotrophic site ~25nm off the coast just north of the spain/Portugal border, and reached it on 21 st June and commenced scientific work. We then worked our way inshore via 4 more stations to an upwelling site where science work was concluded on 6th July. The vessel then returned to Falmouth, arriving on 9th July.

The major aims of Charles Darwin cruise 178 were to obtain: (i) 3D seismic imagery, video transects and swath bathymetry maps of mud volcanoes in the southern Gulf of Cadiz, (ii) video transects across suspected cold water coral reefs in the Alboran Sea, and (iii) 3D seismic imagery of submarine landslides in the Eivissa Channel, immediately east of the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean Sea. The cruise was in support of the EU Framework 6 'HERMES' project (Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margins of European Seas). A total of four 3D seismic cubes and 10 successful video transects were completed. Live chemosynthetic communities found on one mud volcano in the Gulf of Cadiz appear to indicate active methane seepage. Images of gas-charged sediments in areas of submarine landsliding in the Eivissa Channel appear to indicate a direct linkage between landsliding and fluid escape.

Timing and frequency of landslide and gravity flow geohazards along the eastern North Atlantic continental margin This research cruise was a contribution towards the NERC strategic science programme (Oceans 2025). The main scientific objective was to improve our understanding of landslide and gravity flow geohazards along the eastern North Atlantic margin, in particular by studying event timing and frequency in the recent geological record. Special attention was being paid to geohazards that may potentially impact UK communities and infrastructure. Shallow piston coring of turbidite successions in deep basins produces the best record of recent (<50 kyrs) gravity flow events on adjacent margins (e.g. Weaver et al., 2000), but the availability of pre-existing data from the study area was patchy. Consequently, a key aim of JC027 was to 'fill the gaps' and recover cores from basins, or sections of basins, where data are urgently required. A total of 60 piston and megacores was successfully recovered during the cruise, from a series of lower canyon and basin floor environments. Shallow geophysical data, including subbottom profiles and hull-mounted multibeam bathymetry, were collected quasi-continuously during the cruise to define local environment around core sites. In complex areas, such as seafloor scours, Autosub6000 was deployed to collect high-resolution EM2000 multibeam bathymetry.

The SCANS-II project aims at estimating the abundance of small cetaceans inhabiting shelf waters of the Atlantic margin, the North Sea and adjacent waters. Different methods will be used; ship-based monitoring is one of these. Data on abundance are essential to assess the impact of bycatch and other threats, and as input to management actions to ensure the favourable conservation status of these species. The project will develop a management framework to use such data. This will be centred on relatively simple but spatially explicit dynamic models tested by simulation to ensure robustness. An essential part of this long-term management is a robust cost-effective means of monitoring abundance between major SCANS-type surveys; the project will develop and test potential methods, and recommend a suite of monitoring protocols.The "BEL-COLOUR" aims at improving the theoretical basis and software tools for applications of suspended matter and chlorophyll-based satellite data products in coastal waters. In addition to algorithm work and image processing BEL-COLOUR will participate in sea borne cruises for the purposes of calibration of algorithms and for validation of the end products. The project "BEL-COLOUR", funded by the <a href="http://www.belspo.be">Federal Science Policy</a>, within the programme for Earth Observation "STEREO" - Study and management of Coastal Regions.