14. June

Todays Highlights

Date:June 14, 2004
Author:  By Henrik Skov (DHI Water & Environment, Denmark) and Erik Olsen (Institute of Marine Research, Norway)

Last nights sampling on station 4 on top of the Reykjanes Ridge continued until 8 in the morning after which 'GO Sars' continued south-westward towards station 5 west of the ridge, while the scientists continued processing the catches through the day. The samples from the trawl indicated a shift in the species composition from the more northern and polar species found at earlier stations towards more southern Atlantic species. A few individuals of redfish (Sebastes)  were also found in the catch, not surprising as the Reykjanes Ridge is one of the prime fishing grounds for this species in the North Atlantic.  The macro-zooplankton-trawl indicated high abundance of krill in the upper 200m of the water column.

Leaving station 4 took us down a slope from about 1200m depth along a subsea valley or canyon at 2200m, skirting the rim of further slope towards 2600m, until the bottom rose to 2000m at station 5. Observations of whales and sea-birds increased when there was a slope in the topography, either coming from or going into deeper waters. Patches of oceanic animals and other changes in the ocean communities will be scrutinised from the acoustic recordings during the following days.

The ROV "Aglantha" is being prepared for diving, and there might be a test-dive with the vehicle during the night.

Weather Conditions

Monday started with a beautiful sunrise, and was mostly clear, although a bit windy, with some clouds in the middle of the day. In the afternoon, the weather cleared up, with the sun shining and the wind subsiding to a gentle breeze.

Tomorrows expected highlights

Station 5 is the first station on the cruise west of the ridge, and therefore the results will be eagerly anticipated to compare with samples taken east of the ridge. Will we find large oceanographic and biological differences west of the ridge? Tomorrow will show.