-Validation of surface salinity measurements using drifting buoys. Three models of drifting buoys (17 buoys in all) were deployed in the Bay of Biscay on 2 April (R/V Thalassa trip) and on 2-3 May (COSMOS1 aboard Côtes de la Manche). This involved passing close to the buoys, taking samples, TSG measurements and CTD hauls to validate the data. Two sections taken by CTD probe in front structure eddy (for the CONGAS programme). Retrieval of a prototype PROVOR-CTS3 float deployed in May by the Côte d'Aquitaine vessel. 9 CTD sensors to be attached to elephant seals were tested (mounted on SBE25 CTD during profiles). This falls under the COSMOS project, headed by J. Boutin and G. Reverdin.

The main objective of the MOOSE-GE cruises is to observe the annual evolution of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea in the context of the climate change and anthropogenic pressure in order to be able to detect and identify long-term environmental trend and anomalies of the marine ecosystem. The annual cruise focuses on moorings maintenance and hydrology, biogeochemistry and biology monitoring of the Northwestern Mediterranean basin. It aims to follow variability of water masses properties (LIW and WMDW) and biogeochemical and biological content related to these water masses. BILLION 32 cruise was part of this cruise too.

Participation in validating the CAROLS airborne L band radiometer, during flights on ATR42. CTD/LADCP stations performed on repeated sections around the Bay of Biscay and calibration of CTD tags intended for deployment on sea elephants. The related projects are CAROLS, SMOS (TOSCA/CNES and ESA), EPIGRAM (LEFE/IDAHO).

<p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">This multidisciplinary and integrated study comprises geophysical, sedimentological and (bio)geochemical data and aims to present a holistic view on the interaction of both environmental and geological drivers in cold-water coral mound development in the Gulf of Cadiz. In this context, it was fundamental to obtain "samples from the deep" to explore and characterize the biodiversity thought (1) geophysical and video imaging, (2) targeted microbiological profiling, (3) evaluation of present and past oceanic conditions.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">Targeted microbiological and biogeochemical transects with long sediment cores were proposed to elicit the 3D spatial architecture and diversity of the microbial mound community and its possible role in slope stabilization. Off-mound cores were also targeted in order to evaluate present and past oceanic conditions by dating of the cored sequences and by reconstruction of water mass and sedimentary dynamics variability for eliciting the time frame of natural biodiversity changes.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">The key objective aiming to investigate the microbial diversity and the functional link microbes-metazoans was addressed through biogeochemical approaches (biomarkers), molecular fingerprinting (DGGE, 16S rRNA), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and laboratory culture. This also includes the analysis of microbial infestation of coral frame builders and fauna-microbe interactions, in general, and the analysis of microbially mediated processes of carbonate precipitation, at various sites and scales: coral mucus, carbonate crusts, mound slopes, mound interior.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">The sites targeting was mainly prepared by geophysical surveying (high-resolution sparker seismics, multibeam bathymetry) and ROV imagery, performed by RCMG (Ghent University). Especially the location of all on-mound core sites was determined from interpretation of the ROV Genesis dives during the CADIPOR III campaign of June 2007 on board of R/V Belgica. Additional information was made available through cooperation within past or ongoing European projects such as ESF EuroMARGINS "Moundforce", EC FP5 RTN "EURODOM" and EC FP6 IP "HERMES". Although the MiCROSYSTEMS-MD169 cruise focus was on the Pen Duick Escarpment (PDE), (8 sites, Figures 1 and 2) also other sites such as Conger Cliff (Vernadsky Ridge) and Mercator Mud Volcano were sampled. Special attention was given to the two proposed drill sites for IODP Full proposal 673 "Atlantic Mound Drilling 2: Morocco Margin". A total of five main site locations were identified:<br> 1)The Pen Duick Mounds: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Epsilon Mounds,<br> 2) The Vernadsky Ridge mounds: Conger Cliff,<br> 3) A depression site at the foot of PDE,<br> 4) Palaeoceanographic reference sites,<br> 5) Mercator Mud Volcano.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm; text-align:center"><img alt="" src="https://campagnes.flotteoceanographique.fr/campagnes/8200100/images/426.png" style="height:244px; width:500px"></p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm"><em>Figure 1: Shipboard map of the SF11 multibeam bathymetry with site tracks.</em></p> <p style="margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm">The coring and subsampling strategies used during this campaign were predominantly site-dependent, distinguishing between "on-mound" and "off-mound" sites. Every on-mound site was cored at least two times; one core for geochemistry and microbiology, to be sampled immediately on board, and a second core for sedimentology, palaeoceanography and chronostratigraphy, to be left unopened and stored immediately.

Understanding the role played by the combined physical-biogeochemical dynamics at (sub)-mesoscales in exchanges of matter and energy between coastal and open sea areas. The LATEX strategy is based on selective and combined use of numerical modelling and in situ observations (Lagrangian floats, SF6, shipboard ADCPs, ADCP moorings, satellite images, gliders and coastal radars). The main objective of LATEX is to study the impact of an eddy structure at (sub)mesoscale, which is chronically present in the western part of the Gulf of Lion, in interaction with the North Mediterranean current(NMC)on trends in the distribution of conservative tracers and biogeochemical properties. Thanks to this strategy, LATEX should provide answers to the following questions: - Is this type of structure likely to significantly affect the horizontal transfer of matter between the continental shelf and the NMC? - What are the consequences for biogeochemical cycles of the structure's interaction with the NMC? - How do CO2 concentrations evolve within the eddy throughout its life cycle? - How does this type of (sub)-mesoscale coastal eddy act in structuring of plankton communities and the variability in primary production observed in the study zone? - Are the amounts of matter transferred by (sub)-mesoscale structures significant with respect to that displaced by the general circulation on seasonal and annual scales? The related project is called LATEX (LAgrangian Transport Experiment).