RRS James Cook JC037 - ECOMAR - Ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the Sub-Polar Front and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone

This was the third cruise undertaken as part of the NERC-funded consortium project (NE/C512961/1) entitled ECOMAR - Ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the Sub-Polar Front and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone. ECOMAR - Ecosystem of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the Sub-Polar Front and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone. http://www.oceanlab.abdn.ac.uk/ecomar/index.php

ECOMAR forms part of the Census of Marine Life MAR-ECO project which is an international study of life in the northern mid-Atlantic Ocean with scientists from 16 nations participating in research of the waters around the mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland to the Azores (http://www.mar-eco.no).

Depart: Empress Dock, Southampton, UK, Saturday 1 August 2009 Sonar Calibration: Bantry Bay, Ireland, Monday 3 August 2009 Long term moorings were serviced at four super stations at a bottom depth of 2500m equipped with sediment traps, current meters, ADCP and sensor suites, SE - 49°01.92'N, 27°40.82'W, SW - 48°46.80'N, 28°38.43'W, NW - 53°59.33'N, 36°07.39'W and NE 54°00.05'N34°10.58'W. Video and still images of the sea floor were obtained during 18 lander deployments. Faunas samples were taken with 11 megacorer casts, 6 bottom trawls, 8 baited traps and 8 mid-water trawl tows. 23 CTD casts with one 24 h yoyo sequence investigated water masses, flow and primary productivity over the ridge. EK60 acoustic surveys quantified pelagic biomass and optical remote sensing measured patterns of primary productivity and locations of fronts.

During work at the SW station the vessel diverted to Cork, Ireland to repatriate personnel on Friday 14th August. Before starting work at the SE station the vessel diverted to 48°45'N 30°23'W in response to a Mayday call from the vessel Black Knight to rescue lone trans-Atlantic rower Peter Bray on Wednesday 19 August. http://www.peterbrayadventurer.com/ http://www.oceanrowing.com/Peter_Bray/dist_map.htm Sonar Calibration: Bantry Bay, Ireland, Monday 7 September 2009 Arrive: Falmouth, UK, Wednesday 9 September 2009 The ECOMAR area will be revisited by the RRS James Cook with the ISIS ROV in 2010.