W0407A, RISE-1, RISE1W, RISE04W1
This cruise is the first of four cruises in the RISE program aboard the
R/V Wecoma, which was charged with the task of conducting hydrographic surveys.
The R/V Pt. Sur conducted studies of the Columbia R. plume frontal structure, mixing
processes and zooplankton dynamics concurrently with this cruise on the R/V Wecoma.
Cruise Objectives
The purpose of this cruise was to make physical, chemical and biological measurements within the
plume of the Columbia River and over the shelves north and south of the river mouth, with the objective
of determining the effect of the river plume on regional productivity. Historical observations have
shown that in spite of weaker upwelling winds the Washington shelf is more highly productive than
much of the Oregon shelf. Comparative measurements of biological rates, chemical constituents including
iron and other micro nutrients and plankton growth and grazing as well as community distributions were
made in the three regions. These data complement data from three moored arrays deployed in the study
area, data from a second ship, the R/V Pt. Sur, that focused on mixing rates and large scale physical,
nitrate, fluorescence surveys as well as frontal processes, and data from remote sensing and model studies.
RISE-1 Figures:
Cruise Track
Stations and Moorings
Wind Events
Chief Scientist: Barbara M. Hickey
University of Washington
• RISE04W1
• RISE-1
• RISE1W
• WE0407
• we0407