downloaded from C-MORE site 'Cruise objectives' document, 14 September 2009
The primary goal this year will be the characterization of the microbial assemblage and biogeochemical fluxes associated to summer increases in cyanobacterial biomass in the vicinity of Station ALOHA. This characterization will be compared to a sampling site where no biomass increase is detected. In addition, we will try to establish transects across a bloom region, or try to sample distinct areas where blooms are detected from remote sensing and SeaGliders, to assess the spatial heterogeneity of these blooms.
August 8th: Loading day
August 9th, 8:00 Departure from Snug.
1st scenario: If a boom is remotely detected within 100km of Station ALOHA
August 9th to August 10th at 5AM: Transit to the bloom station
August 10th to August 13th in the morning: Sample and carry experiments within the bloom (considers the deployment of sediment traps for at least 72 hours on August 10th and carrying on deck incubation time series for 5 days [August 15th])
August 13th noon to August 14th evening: Series of stations to characterize the spatial heterogeneity of the bloom.
August 14th evening to August 15th 5AM: Transit toward Station ALOHA or a site within 100km of this site not displaying high accumulation of chlorophyll in surface waters.
August 15th to August 18th in the morning: Sample and carry experiments outside the bloom.
August 19th is left as a buffer and could be used to revisit the sampling site.
August 20th early morning - noon: start transit back to Honolulu.
2nd scenario: If blooms are not detected in the vicinity of Station ALOHA:
August 9th to August 10th at 5AM: Transit to 24N, 158W where increase sea surface chlorophyll concentration was observed on July 18 to 28. This location could change once we have developed the full MODIS chlorophyll statistics for the month of July for the study region.
We will use these statistics to assess the station that has had the largest change in chlorophyll concentration as well as the station that has not seen significant chlorophyll fluctuation within 100 to 200km radius north of Station ALOHA. These will represent our primary sampling sites, replacing the bloom and non bloom sites in the 1st scenario. As in the first scenario, we will devote August 13th and August 14th to assess the spatial heterogeneity of the sampling region. 3rd scenario: A bloom develops during the cruise. We will modify the cruise plan accordingly in order to characterize the bloom evolution.
Cruise reports available from the C-MORE ftp site:
ftp://ftp.soest.hawaii.edu/dkarl/cmore/Cruise_Reports/bloomer1/
each investigator contributed a separate report.
Cruise information and original data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog.
Chief Scientist: Ricardo Letelier
Oregon State University
• BLOOMER
• C-MORE 2
• BLOOMER 1