By Gary Fones
4th
May 2015 saw the commencement of DY030 aboard the RRS Discovery, the latest
cruise in the Shelf-Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) programme. The aim
of the NERC Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry research programme is to take a holistic
approach to the cycling of nutrients and carbon, and the controls on primary
and secondary production in UK and European Shelf Seas, and to increase
understanding of these processes and their role in wider biogeochemical cycles.
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| RRS Discovery. Photo credit: Jessy Klar |
Of
the 4 main work packages this cruise will mainly focus on Work Package 2
(Biogeochemistry, macronutrient and carbon cycling in the benthic layer) and
Work Package 3 (The Supply of Iron from Shelf Sediments to the Ocean), but with
facets of the CANDYFLOSS Pelagic Work package. All Work packages contribute to
the overall Integrated modelling effort of Work Package 4.
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Aboard
RRS Discovery. Photo credit: Richard Cooke
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This
mainly benthic focussed cruise is the third of four benthic cruises following
on from DY008 in Spring 2014 and DY021 in March 2015. DY030 will include the
use of a number of benthic lander systems, Autosub 3, gliders, benthic trawl
equipment, benthic flumes, CTD water column sampling, Sediment Profile Imaging
(SPI) camera and various coring systems.
