Rouse, I.P. (1999) RRS Discovery Cruise 240, 11 May-28 May 1999. Ocean Technology Division instrument trials cruise over the Goban Spur, Pendragon Escarpment and Porcupine Abyssal Plain (Southampton Oceanography Centre Cruise Report, 27) Southampton, UK. Southampton Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton 26pp.
Abstract
The principal objective of the cruise was to test, verify and trial a range of oceanographic instruments developed within SOC in a deep water, free field environment not possible in a land-based laboratory. The instruments included:
1. Mini Profiler Vehicle (MPV); 2. SUMOSS optical spectrometer; 3. A profiling CTD mooring system; 4. A new design of cable fairing for the SeaSoar vehicle; 5. SHRIMP video and camera vehicle'; 6. Scatterometer profiler system; 7. Deep water stills camera
The work area - in the vicinity of the Goban Spur and the Porcupine Abyssal Plain - was chosen with care so as to give a wide range of terrain and water depths, from the continental shelf to abyssal plain, to suit the various instruments testing requirements within a small area.
During the cruise, as well as the deep-water instrument and vehicle trials, there were also elements of training new staff and the development of safe working and handling practices.
This cruise demonstrated the huge advantages of being able to test equipment in a deep-water environment. All the instruments deployed benefited from the results obtained, whether they highlighted unknown problems or confirmed theoretical designs. The cruise also highlighted that trials of this kind rapidly accelerate the speed of development of both equipment and instrumentation and are almost a necessity for new designs prior to their being used in anger on scientific cruises.
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