HOT-208 Chief Scientist's Cruise Report
R/V Kilo Moana
January 19 - 23, 2009
Cruise ID: KM0902
Departed: January 19, 2009 at 0900 (HST)
Returned: January 23, 2009 at 0800
Vessel: R/V Kilo Moana
Operator: University of Hawaii
Master of the Vessel: Captain Brian Wehmeyer
Chief Scientist: Fernando Santiago-Mandujano
OTG Electronics/Deck Operations Technicians: Daniel Fitzgerald, Tim
McGovern,Vic Polidoro
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 cruise day 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 for 3 days
from January 20 to 22.
3) Station 50, is the site of the WHOTS Mooring, located at 22? 46'N,
157? 53.83'W was to be occupied on the 4th day of the cruise for about 1
hour.
4) 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 4th day of the cruise
for
about 2 hours.
A Sea Glider was to be deployed upon arrival to Station Kahe.
A single CTD cast was to be conducted at Station 1 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, the ship was to transit to
Station ALOHA.
Upon arrival at Station ALOHA, the free-drifting sediment trap array
was to be deployed. The sediment trap array was to stay in the water
for about 52 hours. This was to be followed by one 200 m CTD cast
to collect water for incubation experiments, and one 1000-m CTD cast to
collect water for the primary production array. This was to be followed
by the
deployment of the array with incubation experiments (primary production
array)
that was to be in the water for 12 hours. A full-depth CTD cast was to
be
conducted afterwards, 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.
Another free-drifting array (gas array) was to be deployed for 24 hours
for
incubation experiments on January 21
A plankton net was to be towed near noon and midnight for 30-min
intervals
on January 21 and 22 at Station ALOHA.
After CTD work at Station ALOHA was accomplished, the ship was to
transit to recover the floating sediment trap array and the gas array.
After recovering the arrays, the ship was to transit to Station 50 to
conduct
a one-hour 200-m CTD yo-yo cast
After station 50 was occupied, the ship was to transit to Sta. ALOHA to
conduct
a PRR cast, and one AC9/FRRf cast, after which the ship was to transit
to
station 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.
A trace metal sampler was to be deployed on January 21st to collect a
trace
metal clean surface seawater sample.
A Profiling Reflectance Radiometer (PRR) was to be deployed for
half-hour
periods near noon time on January 19, 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 Sta. ALOHA at noon time on January 21 and 22, and
in the early morning on January 22.
The following instruments were to collect data throughout the cruise:
shipboard ADCP, thermosalinograph, pCO2 system, and two anemometers.
2. SCIENCE PERSONNEL
Cruise Participant Title Affiliation
Karin Bjorkman Research Specialist UH/BEACH
Tara Clemente Research Associate UH/BEACH
Susan Curless Research Associate UH/BEACH
Ken Doggett Research Associate UH/BEACH
Lance Fujieki Computer Specialist UH/BEACH
Eric Grabowski Research Associate UH/BEACH
Adriana Harlan Research Associate UH/BEACH
Dan Sadler Research Associate UH/BEACH
Brett Updyke Research Associate UH/BEACH
Blake Watkins Marine Engineer UH/BEACH
Jay Wheeler Research Associate UH/BEACH
Sam Wilson Scientist UH/CMORE
Allyn Fetherolf Graduate Student UH/PO
Cameron Fumar Undergrad Student UH/PO
Paul Lethaby Research Associate UH/PO
Fernando Santiago-Mandujano Chief Scientist - Res. Assoc. UH/PO
Christin Shacat Research Associate UH/PO
Jefrey Snyder Marine Technician UH/PO
Stephanie Wagenhauser Undergrad Student UH/PO
Jeff Krause Scientist UCSB
John Bullister Scientist PMEL
Dave Wisegarver Technician PMEL
Dan Fitzgerald Marine Technician OTG
Tim McGovern Marine Technician OTG
Vic Polidoro Marine Technician OTG
3. GENERAL SUMMARY
Operations during the cruise were conducted as planned, with some
delays in
the schedule due to the large swell, which forced us to lower the CTD at
a
very low speed to prevent slack in the wire. Some of the 1000-m CTD
casts took
between 1.5 and 2 hr to complete. One of the 1000-m CTD casts during the
36-hr burst period had to be canceled, and another one had to be
conducted
to 500-m due to delays in the schedule. The CTD wire had to be
reterminated once
due to a bend in the wire.
One 1000-m CTD cast was conducted at Kahe station. Eleven 1000-m CTD
casts, one 500-m, one 200-m, and two deep casts were conducted at
Station
ALOHA. Two 200-m CTD yo-yo casts were conducted near the WHOTS mooring
(station
50), and one 2400-m CTD cast was conducted at Station Kaena.
The array of floating sediment traps, the primary productivity
and gas incubation arrays were deployed and recovered without problems.
All
arrays drifted SW.
Three net tows were conducted at night and two during the day.
The AC9/FRRf was deployed near noon on January 21. Unfortunately the
instrument
was unresponsive after this cast and could not be deployed for the rest
of the
cruise.
The PRR was deployed three times near noon time.
A trace metal sample was taken (ATE).
The ADCP ran without interruption throughout the cruise, as well as the
thermosalinograph and pCO2 system.
Winds during the cruise were between 15 and 25 kt, from the SSW the
first day,
turning slowly clockwise into easterlies. A current towards the SSW of
about
20 cm/sec in the upper 100 m was present the first two days at station
ALOHA.
A swell of 5-15 ft was present during the cruise.
We arrived back at Snug Harbor on January 23 at 0800.
A scientist from UCSB (Janice Jones) was included as a participant in
the original
cruise plan, however she was not able to participate because she hurt
her foot on
board the R/V Kilo Moana as she was coming down from her bunk on the
night prior
to the cruise departure (January 18th). Captain Wehmeyer took her to the
hospital,
where she was treated and released. The Captain filed an incident
report.
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)
January 16, 2009; Loading Day
The equipment was loaded on this day.
January 19, 2009
The ship departed from Snug harbor at 0915, departure delayed because
the tug
boat was late to escort the ship. Safety briefing by the Captain
conducted at
1000, followed by a brief science meeting. Fire and abandon ship drills
were
conducted at 1045 for all personnel.
Arrived at Kahe Station at 1200. A Sea Glider was deployed at 1215.
A CTD wire weight cast (1,300 lb) to 1000 m was conducted at 1230,
during
which J. Snyder inspected the CTD wire and winch.
The Profiling Reflectance Radiometer (PRR) was deployed at 1320
A 1000-m CTD cast was conducted at 1408. After the cast ended, and
after
confirming that the Sea Glider was working properly, the ship headed to
station
ALOHA.
The ship arrived to Station ALOHA at 2330.
January 20, 2009
Deployed sediment traps array at 0012.
Conducted one 200-m CTD cast at 0115 (s2c1).
Conducted one 1000-m CTD cast at 0228 (s2c2).
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 0345.
The primary production array was deployed at 0515.
One deep CTD cast was conducted at 0536 (s2c3).
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 0930.
Net tow conducted at 1030
1000-m CTD cast at 1148 (s2c4), start 36-hr CTD burst period.
1000-m CTD cast at 1429 (s2c5)
CTD cast scheduled for 1630 canceled due to time constraints
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 1630.
Primary production array recovered at 1830 at 22 41.31'N, 158 3.63'W.
1000-m CTD cast at 2000 (s2c6).
Net tow conducted at 2210
1000-m CTD cast at 2300 (s2c7).
Winds were 20-25 kt from SSW, with a large swell of 10-15 ft. A current
towards
the SSW of about 20 cm/sec was present in the upper 100 m at station
ALOHA.
January 21, 2009
Net tow at 0110.
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 0150.
500-m CTD cast at 0240 (s2c8)
CTD wire was reterminated at 0400 due to a bend in the wire close to
the
rosette.
Deployment of gas array at 0450 (22 45.01'N, 158 0.02'W)
1000-m CTD cast at 0557 (s2c9).
1000-m CTD cast at 0831 (s2c10).
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 1016.
Net tow at 1120.
1000-m CTD cast at 1155 (s2c11).
Trace metal sample (ATE) at 1230. Sample taken during CTD cast.
PRR cast at 1250
AC9/FRRf cast at 1415
1000-m CTD cast at 1454 (s2c12)
1000-m CTD cast at 1815 (s2c13)
Transit to pump ship's tanks at 2013.
1000-m CTD cast at 2119 (s2c14)
Net tow at 2323
Winds were northeasterlies at 15-20 kt, with a persistent swell of
10-15 ft
January 22, 2009
Near-bottom CTD cast at 0038 (s2c15).
Canceled AC9/FRRf casts scheduled for 0300 and 1130, unable to
communicate
with the instrument.
The sediment traps array was recovered at 0700 at 22 33.61'N, 158
17.95'W.
The gas array was recovered at 0900 at 22 42.6'N, 158 3.03'W.
1.5-hr, 200-m CTD yo-yo cast near the WHOTS buoy conducted at 1100
(s50c1).
An visual inspection of the WHOTS buoy indicates that the starboard
anemometer
is not rotating as fast as the one on the port side, and seems to be
damaged.
A quick look at the real time data in the WHOI web site shows
discrepancies
between the data from these two instruments. The starboard anemometer
may
need to be repaired.
PRR cast conducted at 1300.
1-hr, 200-m CTD yo-yo cast near the WHOTS buoy conducted at 1500
(s50c2).
Near-bottom CTD cast at station Kaena (21? 50.8'N, 158? 21.8'W) at 2159
(s6c1).
Easterlies at about 15-19 kt.
January 23, 2009
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/Carter Diversity and activities of nitrogen-fixing
microorganisms/UH
Various CMORE PI's CMORE RNA/DNA sampling/UH
Mark Brzeznski Silica production and dissolution rate
measurments/UCSB
Bullister/Wisegarver CFC and SF6 tracer saturation levels in the
water column/PMEL
Additional programs
Investigator: Project/Institution:
----------------- --------------------
Edward Boyle Trace metals/MIT
Sam Wilson Reduced gases in the upper ocean: The cycling
of methane, sulfide and nitrous oxide/CMORE/UH