Cruise ID: KM0627
Departed: October 18, 2006 at 0900 (HST)
Returned: October 24, 2006 at 0800
Vessel: R/V Kilo Moana
Operator: University of Hawaii
Master of the Vessel: Captain Bryon Wilson
Chief Scientist: Eric Grabowski
OTG Electronics/Deck Operations Technicians: Gave Foreman, Steve Tottori
1. SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES
The objective of this cruise was to maintain a collection of
hydrographic and biogeochemical data at the Hawaii Ocean Time-series
(HOT) stations. Four stations were to be occupied during the cruise,
in the following order:
1) Station 1, referred to as Station Kahe, is located at 21 20.6'N,
158 16.4'W and was to be occupied on the first day of the cruise for
about 2 hours.
2) Station 2: ALOHA (A Long Term Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment) is
defined as a circle with a 6 nautical mile radius centered at 22 45'N,
158W. This is the main HOT Station and was to be occupied during the 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th days of the cruise.
3) Station 51, is the site of the MOSEAN Mooring, located at 22 45' N,
158 6' W was to be occupied on the 5th day of the cruise for about 2 hours.
4) Station 50, is the site of the WHOTS Mooring, located at 22 46.1 N,
157 53.4 W was to be occupied on the 6th day of the cruise for about 14 hours.
5) Station 6, referred to as Station Kaena, is located off Kaena Point
at 21 50.8'N, 158 21.8'W was to be occupied on the 6th day of the cruise
for about 2 hours.
Upon arrival to Station Kahe a 400 lb. weight-test cast, one CTD cast to
1000 m, and a PRR cast was to be conducted at this location in the afternoon
of October 18. The single CTD cast was to be conducted to collect continuous
profiles of various physical and chemical parameters. Water samples were to
be collected at discrete depths for biogeochemical measurements. After these
operations were satisfactorily completed, the ship was to proceed to Station ALOHA.
After recovery of the gas array the ship was to return to the center of Station
ALOHA for a full-depth CTD cast, followed by 1000-m CTD casts at strict 3 hour
intervals for at least 36 hours for continuous and discrete data collection, ending
with another full-depth CTD cast.
One free-drifting array (primary production) was to be deployed for 12 hours for
incubation experiments on October 21.
A plankton net was to be towed near noon and midnight for 30-min intervals on
October 19, 20 and 21 at Station ALOHA.
A Profiling Reflectance Radiometer (PRR) was to be deployed for half-hour
periods near noon time on October 18, 21 and 22.
A package including a Wet Labs AC9, a Chelsea Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer
(FRRf), and a SeaBird Seacat was to be used to profile the upper 200 m at Station
ALOHA at noon time on October 21 and 22, and in the early morning on October 22.
An Automated Trace Element Sampler (ATE) was to be deployed once on October 19.
After CTD work at Station ALOHA was accomplished, the ship was to transit to
recover the floating sediment trap array on October 22.
After recovering the sediment traps, the ship was to transit to Station 51 to
conduct a 200-m CTD cast, and then back to Station ALOHA to conduct light casts
(PRR, AC9/FRRf) followed by five more CTD casts. Following the last CTD cast
the ship was to transit to Station 51 (WHOTS).
Four CTD casts were to be conducted near the WHOTS mooring. Cast 1 was to
consist of three 1000-m casts without removing the CTD from the water.
Cast 2 was to consist of 200m casts (yoyo) up and down. Cast 3 was to consist
of three 1000m casts without removing the CTD from the water. Cast 4 was to
consist of 200m casts (yoyo) up and down.
After operations at Station 51 ended, the ship was to transit to Station 6
(Kaena).
A near-bottom CTD cast (~2500-m) was to be conducted at Station 6 including
salinity samples for calibration, after which the ship was to transit back to
Snug Harbor.
The following instruments were to collect data throughout the cruise:
shipboard ADCP, thermosalinograph, and two anemometers.
2. SCIENCE PERSONNEL
BEACH group:
Cruise Participant Title Affiliation
Karin Bjorkman Research Specialist UH
Susan Curless (Watch Leader) Research Associate UH
Ken Doggett Research Associate UH
Eric Grabowski Research Associate UH
Adriana Harlan Technician UH
Claire Mahaffey Research Specialist UH
Dan Sadler Research Associate UH
Blake Watkins Marine Engineer UH
Doug White Technician UH
PO group:
Paul Lethaby (Chief Scientist) Research Associate UH
Erica Wasner Volunteer UH
Fernando Santiago-Mandujano Chief Scientist (Res. Assoc.) UH
Jefrey Snyder Marine Technician UH
John Yeh Graduate Student UH
Others:
Elizabeth Hambleton Technician UH
Misty Miller Technician UH
Matthew Sullivan Postdoctoral Researcher MIT
Maureen Coleman Graduate Student MIT
Sarah Bagby Graduate Student MIT
Yan Mei Shi Graduate Student MIT
John Bullister Scientist PMEL
Dave Wisegarver Scientist PMEL
Maria Calleja Cortès Graduate Student IMEDEA
3. GENERAL SUMMARY
Operations during the cruise were conducted without any delays. Nearly
all objectives for HOT-186 were successfully completed except for the ATE.
Communication problems with the ATE prevented its deployment.
One 1000-m CTD cast was conducted at Station Kahe (1). Two deep casts,
fifteen 1000-m CTD casts, two 500-m casts, four 300-m casts, five 200-m casts
and two 100-m CTD casts were conducted at Station ALOHA (2). One 300-m CTD cast
was conducted near the MOSEAN moorings (Station 51). Two 300-m (yoyo) CTD
casts and two 1000-m CTD casts (up and down 3 times) were conducted near the
WHOTS mooring (Station 50). One near-bottom CTD cast was conducted at Station
Kaena (6).
The array of floating sediment traps, the gas array, and the primary
productivity incubation array were deployed and recovered without
incidents. The arrays drifted SSW of ALOHA.
Six net tows were completed, three at night and three during the day.
C. Mahaffey deployed her hand-held plankton net once.
The AC9/FRRf was deployed at noon four times, and one time at night.
The PRR was deployed four times at noon.
The Automated Trace-Element Sampler was not deployed because
of communication errors.
The ADCP ran without interruption throughout the cruise, as well as the
thermosalinograph, and the ship's two anemometers. The fluorometer had
technical problems until 0525 on October 19.
Winds shifted from NNE at 5 kt to NE at 12 kt to ENE at 22 kt during
the course of the cruise.
We arrived back at Snug Harbor on October 24 at 0800.
4. R/V KILO MOANA, OFFICERS AND CREW, TECHNICAL SUPPORT
The R/V Kilo Moana continues to maintain the excellent ship
support for our work. The officers and crew were most helpful and
accommodating. They showed enthusiasm and concern for our work and
were very flexible in receiving changes in our operational schedule.
Technical support during this cruise was excellent. OTG personnel were
available at any time to assist in our work and made things much easier
for us.
5. DAILY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES (HST)
October 17, 2006; Loading Day
Equipment loaded during this day, the CTD wire was inspected,
re-terminated and the CTD system tested.
October 18, 2006
The ship departed from Snug harbor at 0906. Safety briefing by the
Captain conducted at 1000, followed by a science meeting in which
cruise activites were briefly reviewed, and safety issues were addressed.
Arrived at Kahe Station at 1200, conducted a 400lb weight cast at 1205,
PRR at 1245 and a 1020-m CTD cast at 1320.
We got underway to station ALOHA at 1330. At 1600 the captain conducted
a meeting about deployment and recovery of all arrays. In attendance were
the Captain, Chief Mate, Eric, Dan, Ken, Doug and Gabe.
The ship arrived to STation ALOHA at 2230. One 200-m CTD cast was conducted
to collect water for the gas array experiment.
October 19, 2006
One more 200-m CTD cast was conducted at Station ALOHA to collect water for the
gas array experiment. A 100-m CTD cast followed to collect water for the mixing
experiment. Afterwards, the gas array was deployed at 0318. At 0345 a 200-m
CTD cast was conducted for the mixing experiment. Following, the ISUS was
installed in the rosette and connected to the CTD for the rest of the CTD cast
operations.
Two 500-m CTD casts were conducted for the MIT group at 0630 and 0830.
The ATE was cancelled due to a communication error.
One net tow was conducted at 1000 by Blake Watkins.
A hand held net was deployed at 1045 by Claire Mahaffey to capture Trichodesmium.
One 1000-m CTD cast occurred at 1100.
A PRR cast was conducted at 1215 for the MIT group.
One 1000-m CTD cast occurred at 1430 followed by three 200-m CTD casts.
The sediment trap array was deployed at 2330.
Weather conditions observed at 1200; winds from the NNE at 5 knots, seas 8-10ft,
cloud cover around 5/8.
Trichodesmium surface slick observed.
October 20, 2006
The gas array was recovered at 0300. The array drifted about 10nm SW from the
center of Station ALOHA.
The near-bottom PO/CTD cast started at 0500.
The first 1000-m CTD cast of the 36hr burst period started at 1110 and four
more casts followed that day. The ISUS was reinstalled in the rosette and connected
before the first CTD cast of the 36hr period.
Three net tows occurred at 0030, 1000 and 2200 by Blake Watkins.
Weather conditions at 1400; winds from the NE at 12 knots, seas 6-8ft and cloud
cover 7/8.
October 21, 2006
Seven 1000-m CTD casts were conducted this day and the 36-hr CTD burst period
ended with a second deep cast that started at 2300. The primary productivity
array was deployed at 0530 and recovered at 1840. The primary productivity
array drifted 5 nm S from ALOHA.
One PRR cast was conducted at 1210.
At 1245 one AC-9/FRRf cast was conducted.
Two net tows were conducted at 0100 and 1000 by Blake Watkins.
Weather conditions at 1400; winds from the NE at 10 knots, seas 6-8ft and cloud
cover 6/8.
October 22, 2006
One AC-9/FRRf cast was conducted at 0300.
The sediment trap array was recovered at 0655 after drifting around 20nm SW
from ALOHA.
One 300-m CTD cast was conducted near the MOSEAN mooring at 0900.
One PRR cast was conducted at Station ALOHA around 1200.
Two AC-9/FRRf casts were conducted at 1245 and 1345.
One 1000-m CTD cast and three 300-m CTD casts occurred on this day.
Weather conditions at 1400; winds from the ENE at 22 knots, seas 8-12ft
and cloud cover 2/8.
October 23, 2006
One 300-m CTD cast occurred at 0000.
At 0215, 3 consecutive 1000-m CTD casts were conducted at the WHOTS mooring.
Following at 0500 a 300-m yoyo CTD cast was conducted at the WHOTS mooring.
At 0900 3 consecutive 1000-m CTD casts were conducted at the WHOTS mooring.
One AC9/FRRf cast was conducted at 1215.
At 1300 a 300-m yoyo CTD cast was conducted at the WHOTS mooring.
One near-bottom cast was conducted at Station Kaena (Sta 6).
Weather conditions at 1400; winds from the ENE at 22 knots, seas 8-10ft and
cloud cover 7/8.
October 24, 2006
Arrived at Snug Harbor at 0800. Full off-load.
HOT program sub-components:
Investigator: Project/Institution:
----------------- --------------------
Dave Karl: Core Biogeochemistry/UH
Roger Lukas: Hydrography/UH
Bob Bidigare: HPLC pigments/UH
Mike Landry: Zooplankton dynamics/UH
Mark Abbott/Ricardo Letelier: Optical measurements/OSU
Ancillary programs:
Investigator: Project/Institution:
----------------- --------------------
Charles Keeling: CO2 dynamics and intercalibration/SIO
Paul Quay: DI13C and O isotopes/UW
Penny Chisholm: Prochlorococcus population dynamics/MIT
Zehr/Church/Montoya: Diversity and activities of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms/UH
Additional programs:
Investigator: Project/Institution:
----------------- --------------------
DeLong/Chisholm: Plankton Metagenomics
Mike Rappe: Marine Bacterioplankton Community Structure/UH
John Bullister: Dissolved Chlorofluorocarbons