Formation, growth and separation of the Northwest Corner (NWC) eddy, Part 2
Teacher(s):
Debbie Quintero
Todd Hilgendorff
Chief Scientist(s):
David Hebert
Port/Location:
Newfoundland, Canada
Expedition Dates:
April 23, 2011 – May 22, 2011
The Gulf Stream travels along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada, bringing warm water northwards. South of Newfoundland, the Gulf Stream separates into two currents, one that moves around the Grand Banks and travels northwards to approximately 50N, where it heads eastward across the North Atlantic. This current is known as the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Where the NAC turns eastward, eddies are generated on a regular basis. The mechanism for their formation and evolution is unknown. Two cruises this year will conduct high-resolution hydrographic surveys of the eddy region, including acoustic Doppler current profiling, and Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) sampling, to gather data to provide a basis for validating a conceptual model of eddy formation and evolution.
These research cruises are being led by scientists from the University of Rhode Island. Although hosted on the RITAS website, these cruises are not part of the RITAS program; in fact none of the teachers is from Rhode Island.
The first part of the data collection was conducted aboard the RV Knorr from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
The second part of the data collection is being conducted aboard the RV Endeavor from the University of Rhode Island.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 1027573. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Phytoplankton patchiness and productivity: Implications for our understanding of marine food web function and dynamics
Teacher(s):
Erica Killian
Chief Scientist(s):
Susanne Menden-Deuer
Port/Location:
Narragansett Bay to Georges Bank
Expedition Dates:
April 4, 2011 – April 11, 2011
The goal of this cruise was to understand how the distribution of phytoplankton, whether patchy or well mixed affects the productivity, and thus the export of C and energy from the system. Fostering a better understanding of phytoplankton dynamics will serve to increase our local expertise and abilities to understand ecological dynamics in Narragansett Bay in the future.
During EN490, we tested hypotheses about the importance of phytoplankton distribution to zooplankton predation and overall primary productivity in the ocean. The cruise progressed exactly as proposed. In total 8 graduate students (GSO/URI) and 4 undergraduate (URI) students gained valuable at sea experience. Students in Drs. Rynearson and Maranda’s lab fulfilled their cruise requirement and conducted some of their thesis work. Erica Killian, a Rhode Island high-school mathematics teacher participated within the ‘Teacher at Sea’ program. In addition to the proposed work, Dr. Chris Roman, URI/GSO joined the cruise with his graduate student to test a new float under development. After an initial departure delay, we first occupied 2 stations in Cape Cod Bay and spent the remainder transiting across the northern edge of Georges Bank (see Fig. 1). In total, 30 stations were occupied and the following samples collected: dissolved macronutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations, plankton particle size spectrum and physiology, genetic composition of plankton, isolation of target species, zooplankton grazing rates and vertical water column profiles. All station coordinates, types of samples collected and sampling depths are given in Table 1. The objectives of the cruise were met in that we were able to observe phytoplankton growth within the physical and chemical context it occurred in and had several tests of the float.
Testing of SCIMPI, a new seafloor observatory for IODP
Teacher(s):
Scott Dickison
Chief Scientist(s):
Tania Lado Insuaa & Ian Kulin
Port/Location:
Off of Georges Bank
Expedition Dates:
March 22, 2011 – March 26, 2011
The focus of this expedition was to test in a deep ocean environment, a new device, The Simple Cabled Instrument for Measuring Parameters In-situ, nicknamed SCIMPI, which was designed by the University of Rhode Island and funded by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). SCIMPI is designed to take subsurface time series measurements of temperature, pressure and resistivity in IODP boreholes and has been created to study the seafloor as a dynamic system. SCIMPI will act as a long-term affordable observatory for sub-seafloor dynamics research compared to current research methods.
Formation, growth and separation of the Northwest Corner (NWC) eddy, Part 1
Teacher(s):
David Wehunt
Mark Harris
Chief Scientist(s):
David Hebert
Port/Location:
Newfoundland, Canada
Expedition Dates:
February 27, 2011 – April 1, 2011
The Gulf Stream travels along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada, bringing warm water northwards. South of Newfoundland, the Gulf Stream separates into two currents, one that moves around the Grand Banks and travels northwards to approximately 50N, where it heads eastward across the North Atlantic. This current is known as the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Where the NAC turns eastward, eddies are generated on a regular basis. The mechanism for their formation and evolution is unknown. Two cruises this year (one on RV Knorr, one on RV Endeavor) will conduct high-resolution hydrographic surveys of the eddy region, including acoustic Doppler current profiling, and Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) sampling, to gather data to provide a basis for validating a conceptual model of eddy formation and evolution.
These research cruises are being led by scientists from the University of Rhode Island. Although hosted on the RITAS website, these cruises are not part of the RITAS program; in fact none of the teachers is from Rhode Island.
The first part of the data collection will be conducted aboard the RV Knorr from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
The second part of the data collection will be conducted aboard the RV Endeavor from the University of Rhode Island. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE 1027573. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in his material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Characterizing patterns in the Rhode Island Sound Part III
Teacher(s):
Mark Watson
Chief Scientist(s):
Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert
Port/Location:
Rhode Island Sound
Expedition Dates:
October 5, 2010 – October 8, 2010
The focus of this expedition will be to characterize currents, larval transport and water mass properties of Rhode Island Sound (RIS). RIS is largely unstudied in terms of physical, as well as biological and chemical data sets. The cruise can be viewed as a step in a valuable, longer-term process of better understanding a body of water that is integrally connected to the heart of Rhode Island. The more immediate impacts of this work include:
Understanding dynamics of larval supply to Narragansett Bay (NB) and population connectivity between neighboring water bodies, as well as the impacts of these dynamics on Rhode Island fisheries. Characterizing spatial and temporal patterns of water mass exchange, which control the fate of pollutants and nutrient dynamics of NB. Providing preliminary data for a large multidisciplinary grant proposal and for local efforts to better understand the RIS ecosystem in the context of the New England Transitional Sea (NETS).
Characterizing patterns in the Rhode Island Sound Part II
Teacher(s):
Susanne Warburton
Chief Scientist(s):
Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert
Port/Location:
Rhode Island Sound
Expedition Dates:
May 5, 2010 – May 20, 2010
The focus of this expedition will be to characterize currents, larval transport and water mass properties of Rhode Island Sound (RIS). RIS is largely unstudied in terms of physical, as well as biological and chemical data sets. The cruise can be viewed as a step in a valuable, longer-term process of better understanding a body of water that is integrally connected to the heart of Rhode Island. The more immediate impacts of this work include:
Understanding dynamics of larval supply to Narragansett Bay (NB) and population connectivity between neighboring water bodies, as well as the impacts of these dynamics on Rhode Island fisheries. Characterizing spatial and temporal patterns of water mass exchange, which control the fate of pollutants and nutrient dynamics of NB. Providing preliminary data for a large multidisciplinary grant proposal and for local efforts to better understand the RIS ecosystem in the context of the New England Transitional Sea (NETS).
Characterizing patterns in the Rhode Island Sound Part I
Teacher(s):
Scott Dickison
Chief Scientist(s):
Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert
Port/Location:
Rhode Island Sound
Expedition Dates:
November 10, 2009 – November 12, 2009
The focus of this expedition will be to characterize currents, larval transport and water mass properties of Rhode Island Sound (RIS). RIS is largely unstudied in terms of physical, as well as biological and chemical data sets. The cruise can be viewed as a step in a valuable, longer-term process of better understanding a body of water that is integrally connected to the heart of Rhode Island. The more immediate impacts of this work include:
Understanding dynamics of larval supply to Narragansett Bay (NB) and population connectivity between neighboring water bodies, as well as the impacts of these dynamics on Rhode Island fisheries. Characterizing spatial and temporal patterns of water mass exchange, which control the fate of pollutants and nutrient dynamics of NB. Providing preliminary data for a large multidisciplinary grant proposal and for local efforts to better understand the RIS ecosystem in the context of the New England Transitional Sea (NETS).
Mapping red tide cysts in the Gulf of Maine
Teacher(s):
Amy Lloyd-Rippe
Chief Scientist(s):
Bruce Keafer
Port/Location:
Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy
Expedition Dates:
October 14, 2008 – October 20, 2008
The cruise is basically a bottom coring expedition. We will be returning with about 180 core samples from the ocean floor from Maine to the Bay of Fundy, in addition to water samples of those sites, and water samples from the near bottom and far bottom of 18 sites.
This is the 5th year for Cyst Cruises, and the data has been compiled to create computer models hopefully predicting the severity of red tide blooms for the following fishing season.
Last year, they correctly predicted the type of season, enabling the fishing industry to plan accordingly. The Woods Hole team is striving to increase accuracy of these predictions. There are still questions about the life cycle of the Alexandrium Fundyense, beyond the basics, making it difficult to account for the distribution of these dinoflagellates and to predict their toxicity. This area of the sea, both near shore and off shore, is complex with many variables making it challenging to develop a computer model of the bloom dynamics. If the researchers are successful in their predictions of the red tide blooms, the fishing industry would receive advance notice of a toxic bloom and be able to harvest their shellfish before the bloom, or to work in another region of the sea.
Mapping near shore areas of Newfoundland
Teacher(s):
Hilary Downes-Fortune
Chief Scientist(s):
Dwight Coleman
Port/Location:
Grand Banks and Newfoundland Shore
Expedition Dates:
July 15, 2008 – July 30, 2008
Exploring the maritime cultural landscape of the Grand Banks and near shore areas of Newfoundland, including Placentia Bay, will examine more than five centuries of human use and impact on one of the historically most important parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Almost no region offers more opportunities to examine the interplay between technology, the environment, markets, and culture than this once teeming region of the sea and its adjacent waters.
This expedition is designed to generate important data and identify significant submerged cultural resources. There will be two phases. The first phase will comprise the beginning of a systematic survey of the Grand Banks. We propose to run a single transect, 250 miles long, across the Banks from their southeastern corner to Cape Race, and then a second transect from Cape Race to Placentia Bay. The second phase will comprise simultaneous acoustic survey (using the AUV) and ROV operations (from onboard Endeavor) in the vicinity of Cape Race and Placentia Bay.
Exploration of the Georges Banks for copepod consumption
Teacher(s):
Audrey Kampper
Chief Scientist(s):
Ted Durbin
Port/Location:
Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine
Expedition Dates:
May 27, 2008 – June 1, 2008
This expedition will mostly center on collecting DNA markers, mostly from krill. Using instruments such as MOC NESS to collect the plankton samples, which will be, analyzed both on board and in the research lab once back on campus.
Investigation of the dynamics and of transfer of materials across the mid-shelf hydrographic front Part III
Teacher(s):
John Sullivan
Chief Scientist(s):
David Ullman
Port/Location:
Mid-Atlantic Bight
Expedition Dates:
April 2, 2007 – April 11, 2007
The focus of this expedition of the Mid-shelf region of the mid-Atlantic Bight was on understanding the dynamics of and transfer of materials across the mid-shelf hydrographic front. This feature has been observed in satellite observations, but little is known about the mechanism underlying its formation and how its presence influences the cross-shelf transport of water properties, fish larvae, etc. Moorings with physical oceanography sensors were deployed. Shipboard hydrographic surveys were performed with Endeavor’s ScanFish (a towed undulating vehicle). Also performed were radiochemical analysis of water samples.
Examination of phytoplankton
Teacher(s):
Normand Dubois
Chief Scientist(s):
Tatiana Rynearson
Port/Location:
Various research localities
Expedition Dates:
March 21, 2007 – March 28, 2007
The goal of this cruise was to better understand the factors that impact the growth and survival of phytoplankton and how those factors change in various environments, ranging from estuarine to open ocean. Such knowledge is significant in understanding the community composition of phytoplankton.
In this project, we brought together expertise and emerging methods from the fields of bio-optics, population genomics and metabolomics in a coordinated effort to examine what phytoplankton is present and what they are doing. First, we used a suite of DNA fingerprinting techniques to examine biodiversity in the plankton. Second, we applied a range of newly-developed metabolomic and proteomic tools to examine the metabolic capabilities and nutrient status of the phytoplankton. Lastly, bio-optics tools were used to examine how changes in biodiversity and nutrient status affected the optical characteristics of phytoplankton in coastal and open ocean ecosystems.
Geodetic acoustic benchmark beaconing using echo sounder
Teacher(s):
Elizabeth Russillo
Chief Scientist(s):
Kate Moran
Port/Location:
North of Hudson Canyon
Expedition Dates:
March 12, 2007 – March 15, 2007
The objective of this expedition was to understand the details and feasibility of modifying an existing Pressure-recording Inverted Echo Sounder (PIES) developed by the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island for detection of seismic activity resulting in tsunamis.
Investigation of the dynamics and of transfer of materials across the mid-shelf hydrographic front Part II
Teacher(s):
Nina Rooks Cas
Timothy Stahl
Chief Scientist(s):
David Ullman
Port/Location:
Mid-Atlantic Bight
Expedition Dates:
February 18, 2007 – February 28, 2007
The focus of this expedition of the Mid-shelf region of the mid-Atlantic Bight was on understanding the dynamics of and transfer of materials across the mid-shelf hydrographic front. This feature has been observed in satellite observations, but little is known about the mechanism underlying its formation and how its presence influences the cross-shelf transport of water properties, fish larvae, etc. Moorings with physical oceanography sensors were deployed. Shipboard hydrographic surveys were performed with Endeavor’s ScanFish (a towed undulating vehicle). Also performed were radiochemical analysis of water samples.
Investigation of the dynamics and of transfer of materials across the mid-shelf hydrographic front Part I
Teacher(s):
Chris Moon
Chief Scientist(s):
David Ullman
Port/Location:
Mid-Atlantic Bight
Expedition Dates:
January 10, 2007 – January 20, 2007
The focus of this expedition was on the Mid-shelf region of the mid-Atlantic Bight. This feature has been observed in satellite observations, but little is known about the mechanism underlying its formation and how its presence influences the cross-shelf transport of water properties, fish larvae, etc. Moorings with physical oceanography sensors were deployed. Shipboard hydrographic surveys were performed with Endeavor’s ScanFish (a towed undulating vehicle). Also performed were radiochemical analysis of water samples.
Acoustic and optical imaging survey of the USS Monitor shipwreck site
Teacher(s):
Eric Towle
Chief Scientist(s):
Dwight Coleman
Port/Location:
USS MONITOR Wreck Site, Off the Virginia Coast
Expedition Dates:
July 15, 2006 – July 19, 2006
The objective of this expedition was to produce a detailed map of a shipwreck site using the most sensitive and technologically advanced Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV’s). The ROV’s, ARGUS and LITTLE HERCULES were the primary tools for this expedition. The expedition also used a satellite telecommunication link to broadcast streaming video feeds and answered questions from shore in real time. The high-resolution digital still and video imagery that was collected will be used to generate a high quality photomosaic (photographic mosaic) of one of the greatest American technological innovations of the 19th century.
Mediterranean transit
Teacher(s):
Gioya DeSouza-Fennelly
Chief Scientist(s):
Rainer Lohmann and Eric Morgan
Port/Location:
Transit from Sea of Crete, Greece to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
Expedition Dates:
June 20, 2006 – July 9, 2006
The purpose of the cruise is to detect concentrations of organic pollutants in air and water of the North Atlantic, and derive whether the atmosphere is still delivering these pollutants to the Atlantic Ocean, or if ocean and atmosphere have reached an equilibrium distribution. This information will help us better understand how much longer some of these banned chemicals are going to be of concern, and how efficient oceans are in sequestering organic compounds.
Sea of Crete
Teacher(s):
Kathleen Podraza
Chief Scientist(s):
Dwight Coleman
Port/Location:
Heraklion, Crete to Santorini, Greece
Expedition Dates:
April 26, 2006 – May 2, 2006
The objective of this expedition was to describe navigational routes and hazards; to clarify questions about nature and organization of communication among inhabitants of Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, including trade and colonization; and, to correlate the archaeological record with the geological stratigraphy of the Sea of Crete.
Circulation model of Narragansett Bay II
Teacher(s):
John Hall
Martha Roberts
Chief Scientist(s):
Chris Kincaid
Port/Location:
Block Island to Martha’s Vineyard
Expedition Dates:
December 12, 2005 – December 15, 2005
This expedition was a follow-up and comparison study to the expedition to the same location in September 2005. During that expedition, data was collected on the interaction of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay during the warmer months. A scan fish was used to map the currents above and below the surface of the water. Another objective is to identify tidal cycles at certain phases.
Blue water optical studies
Teacher(s):
Joanne Greenleaf
Chief Scientist(s):
James Sullivan
Port/Location:
Northwest corner of the Sargasso Sea
Expedition Dates:
October 10, 2005 – October 16, 2005
The objective of the expedition was to determine the particulate components in oceanic blue water conditions (known as optical “Case I” waters) which contribute to the backscattering of light. Backscattered light is the signal measured by remote sensing stellites, imagers and commercial and military LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) systems.
Acoustic propagation site survey for a future yellowtail-flounder tracking program
Teacher(s):
Doug Wilson
Chief Scientist(s):
Tom Rossby
Port/Location:
Georges Bank
Expedition Dates:
September 21, 2005 – September 26, 2005
The overarching objective of the cruise was to study sound propagation with a view towards establishing an underwater acoustic navigation system optimized to track yellowtail flounder near and at the bottom around Georges Bank.
Circulation model of Narragansett Bay
Teacher(s):
Joyce Gauvin
Kathleen Barden
Chief Scientist(s):
Chris Kincaid
Port/Location:
Block Island Sound to Gay Head
Expedition Dates:
September 12, 2005 – September 15, 2005
The objective of this expedition was to collect data on the interaction of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay at the end of the warmer months of the year. In December 2005 another expedition was conducted to collect comparative data. A scan fish was used to map the currents above and below the surface of the water.
Comparison of carbon flux in the Atlantic
Teacher(s):
Luci Rainho
Chief Scientist(s):
Pat Kelly
Port/Location:
Off the coast of Bermuda
Expedition Dates:
August 16, 2005 – August 27, 2005
The objective of this cruise was to collect data on sinking organic matter (carbon) in the surface waters (upper 300 m) of the Western North Atlantic Ocean. Once the data was collected and analyzed it was compared to the data collected on an earlier cruise conducted in the Western Mediterranean, which had the same objective.
Comparison of carbon flux in the Mediterranean Sea
Teacher(s):
Steve Vincelette
Chief Scientist(s):
Brad Moran
Port/Location:
Mediterranean Sea off of Port La Nouvelle, France
Expedition Dates:
May 5, 2005 – May 15, 2005
The objective of this expedition was to collect data on sinking organic matter (carbon) in the surface waters (upper 300 m) of the Western Mediterranean Sea. Once the data is collected and analyzed it will be compared to the data, which is planned to be collected during a later cruise in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Subsurface hydrographic structure of oceanic fronts
Teacher(s):
Glen Modica
Chief Scientist(s):
Dr. David Ullman, Dr. Dave Hebert and Dr. Vitalii Sheremet
Port/Location:
Continental Shelf South of New England and Long Island
Expedition Dates:
November 28, 2004 – December 4, 2004
The scientific objective of R/V Endeavor cruise 400 is to determine the subsurface hydrographic structure of oceanic fronts on the continental shelf south of New England. Fronts in the ocean are boundaries between distinct water masses of differing temperature and/or salinity. The rate of exchange of water across these boundaries is thought to control the degree to which materials such as land-derived pollutants and organisms such as fish larvae are mixed horizontally in the ocean. Because fronts are also locations where fish accumulate, it is important to understand the physical processes occurring at these locations.
The focus of the expedition will be the newly discovered mid-shelf front that is found in water depths of approximately 50 meters. This front has recently been identified in surface temperature maps derived from satellite measurements, but its subsurface characteristics and the mechanism underlying its formation are unknown at present.
Measurements of water temperature and salinity from a towed undulating sensor package along with observations of ocean currents from the moving ship will provide basic information as to the strength of the front and whether there is an ocean current jet flowing along the front as is often observed at other fronts. In addition to the physical oceanographic observations, measurements of the concentration of natural chemical tracers present in land derived freshwater will provide estimates of the speed of mixing of these waters with open ocean waters.
Also joining the expedition are GSO marine research specialist Sandra Fontana, GSO marine research associate Roger Kelly, and University of Massachusetts postdoctoral scholar Takeyoshi Nagai. Also, GSO graduate students Joe Kuehl, Yongsheng Xu and Elly Speicher.