Laboratory for Microbial Oceanography
in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa

COOK-BOOK 1 (KM0308): Chief Scientist Report


Chief Scientist: K. BJÖRKMAN


Departed Honolulu:  April 7, 2003 at 1800 (HST)
Arrived Kodiak:  April 16, 2003 at 1300 (AST)
Vessel:  R/V Kilo Moana
Operator:  University of Hawaii
Master of the Vessel: Captain Grey Drewry
Chief Scientist: Karin Björkman
STAG Electronics Technician: Steve Poulos
STAG : Kuhio Vellalos



1.  SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

  The objective of this cruise was the collection of hydrographic and
biogeochemical data along the transect from Oahu, HI to Kodiak Island,
AK. We planned to occupy approximately 21 stations enroute to Kodiak
with higher resolution sampling across the transitional zone between
the northern North Pacific gyre boundery and sub-Arctic waters
approximately located between 30'N-35'N.

  A single CTD cast was to be conducted at each station to collect
continuous profiles of various physical and chemical parameters. A
Fast Repetition Rate Flourometer (FRRF) optical package was mounted on
the CTD rosette frame work for continuous profiling down to 250 m.
Water samples were to be collected at discrete depths for
biogeochemical measurements, and incubation experiments over the top
200 m.

  At predetermined co-ordinates XBTs or XCTDs were launched and ARGO
floats deployed.

  The following instruments were to collect data throughout the cruise:
FRRF, thermosalinograph, fluorometer, and anemometer.

  The Hawaii Mapping Research Group (HMRG) component conducted continuous
multibeam mapping along the transect.


2.  	SCIENCE PERSONNEL

Karin Björkman 	Chief Scientist		UH
Matthew Church	Scientist		UCSC 
Valerie Franck	Scientist		UH
Paul Johnson	Scientist		UH
Justine Afghan	Scientist		SIO
Tara Clemente	Scientist		UH
Lance Fujieki	Scientist 		UH
Mike Simpson	Scientist		UH
Guido Corno	Student			OSU
Laurie Juranek	Student			UW
Kurt Heinze	Scientist		UW
(Nick Stamatiou)			Xantic		

STAG:
Steve Poulos 	UHMC/STAG
Kuhio Vellalos	UHMC/STAG


3.  GENERAL SUMMARY

  Operations were conducted as planned with only minor interruptions.
Nineteen 250-m CTD/FRRF casts were obtained between 23'N and 53'N.
Underway sampling for DIC and chlorophyll was conducted from the
uncontaminated seawater system as well as FRRF data. The original plan
for 21 stations was altered due to time constraints and the station
spacing was slightly wider than from the initial cruise plan. The
ships speed was also faster at approximately 14 knots to the projected
12 knots for the majority of the transect.

  K. Heinze deployed 10 ARGO floats without incidents. 

  J. Afghan launched 108 XBTs starting at the 200 m depth contour off
Oahu and ending at the 200 m depth contour off Kodiak Island and spaced
approximately every 30 latitude N. In addition 6 XCTDs were deployed at
approximately 41', 46', 51', 54', 55'40 and 56'30 N.
  
  L. Juranek collected samples for 18O and DIC. 
  

  M. Church collected DNA and RNA samples as well as samples for
incubation experiments.

  V. Franck collected samples for incubation experiments, as did K. Björkman.

  The HMRG component did multi-beam mapping throughout the transect.

  The thermosalinograph and the ship's anemometer ran without
interuptions. The fluorometer was reset on a couple of occasions.

  We arrived at the Coast Guard Station in Kodiak, Kodiak Island, AK on
April 16 at about 1300 hrs.


4.  R/V KILO MOANA, OFFICERS AND CREW, TECHNICAL SUPPORT

  The R/V Kilo Moana and her crew delivered excellent ship support for
our work. The officers and crew were exceptionally helpful and
accommodating.  They showed enthusiasm and concern for our work.
Technical support during this cruise was excellent. STAG personnel were
available at any time to assist in our work and made things much easier
for us. However, we were a little short on deck support.


5. ISOTOPE VAN

  A post-cruise swipe test on 26 locations inside the van and in its
immediate vicinity came out clean. However, radioactive contamination
was found with the Geiger-counter in one location on the floor in the
isotope van.  The contamination proved to be unremovable and at
approximately 500 cpm at 1 cm distance (Geiger-counter). The area was
covered with cardboard, taped to the floor and labeled radioactive.
This was reported to UH-RSO and the Captain as well as STAG personnel.


6.  DAILY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES (all times are HST)

April 4, 2003; Loading Day

  Equipment loaded on this day. Other parties for later KM cruises also
loaded. Loading of ship supplies also took place.

April 7, 2003

  The ship departed from Snug Harbor at 1000 hours, approximately 2 hours
later than scheduled, for the fuel dock. At 1400 hours the Captain held
a safety information meeting. The ship departed Honolulu at
approximately 1815 hours after completion of the fuelling. A short
science meeting was held at 1900 hours.

April 8, 2003

  The first station was planned for 0700 hours but the cast did not go in
until 0735 hours due to a general CTD training session that took longer
than anticipated. Due to time constraints the ship did not slow down
until we were ready to deploy.  The winch speed for the CTD/FRRF
package was to be 10m/min for both on the up and down cast to ensure
high resolution profiling for the FRRF. The cast was completed without
problems. One Niskin bottle did not trip.

When CTD 1 was on deck we commenced our transit to the next station. 

Fire and abandon ship drills were conducted at 1230 hours.

  Station 2 was occupied from approximately 1900 to 2000 hours. Prior to
the cast the second CTD frame was moved from the cart to allow for the
CTD package in use to use the cart for moving the package closer to the
bulkhead. The rosette frame was too wide to go through the door to the
wet lab.

April 9, 2003

  Occupied stations 3 at 27.6'N (0700 hours) and 4 at 29.5'N (1700
hours). The ships transit speed was increased to approximately 14 knots
with all 4 engines on line at approximately 1030 hours.

April 10, 2003

  Station 5 at 30.9'N (0110 hours). Bottle 24 probably tripped at wrong
depth. The ships speed was reduced to 6.5 knots for 45 minutes while
sampling. Station 6 at 32.1'N (0830 hours) was delayed approximately
2.5 hours when a kink in the wire was discovered and a re-termination
made. Bottle 24 again probably tripped at wrong depth and bottle #23
failed to trip. Cast 7 at 32.5'N (1225 hours) and 8 at 33.25'N (1715
hours) were pushed back 1 hour due to the late start at station 6.
Station 9 at 34.0'N (2200 hours) was back on the original time
schedule. Bottle #15 probably mistripped.

April 11, 2003

  Sampled Station 10 at 35.3'N (0510 hours) and Station 11 at 36.3'N
(1100 hours) without incidents. Bottle #13 failed to trip at Station 12
at 37.7'N (1800 hours).

  Four openings were cut in the steel door-frame to the wet lab to
accommodate the rosette frame. This enabled us to move the CTD package
on the cart all the way into the wet lab and out of the weather. The
ship continued to steam at approximately 14 knots. The ships clock was
advanced 1 hour.

April 12, 2003

  Completed Station 13 at 40.2'N (0620 hours) and Station 14 at 42.5'N
(1800 hours) without incidents.

April 13, 2003

  Completed Station 15 at 45.0'N (0600 hours) and Station 16 at 47.25'N
(1805 hours). No data from the FRRF for station 15. The instrument had
problems charging due to the cold water. A heat gun was used for the
remaining casts to warm the battery pack and allow rapid recharging.
The ships speed was slowed to about 12-13 knots.

April 14, 2003

  Completed Station 17 at 49.2'N (0500 hours) and Station 18 at 51.3'N
(1700 hours).  The ships clock had been advanced 1 hour.

April 15, 2003

Completed Station 19 at 53.7'N (0500 hours). Last station. No samples
for dissolved oxygen were taken due to lack of analysis time.

April 16, 2003

Arrived at Kodiak Coast Guard Station at approximately 1230 (AST).

WEATHER:

Below is the approximate daily wind direction, wind speed and
barometer. Wind direction in degrees, speed in knots, barometer in
mbar.

Date	        Wind 		Wind 	Barometer
	        direction	speed	
	        
8 April, 2003	38-64		5-10	1018
9 April, 2003	25-38		15-20	1022
10 April, 2003	20-335		5-15	1031
11 April, 2003	295-355		10-15	1032
12 April, 2003	220-303		5-10	1032
13 April, 2003	300-333		15	1034
14 April, 2003	240-290		20	1030
15 April, 2003	230		28	1014

Station locations: (long, lat, station #)
-157.31, 23.64, 1
-157.07, 25.46, 2
-156.78, 27.61, 3
-156.51, 29.48, 4
-156.30, 30.94, 5
-156.14, 32.12, 6
-156.06, 32.55, 7
-155.97, 33.26, 8
-155.85, 34.06, 9
-155.66, 35.35, 10
-155.50, 36.37, 11
-155.31, 37.65, 12
-154.92, 40.16, 13
-154.52, 42.56, 14
-154.10, 45.04, 15
-153.71, 47.24, 16
-153.34, 49.21, 17
-152.94, 51.37, 18
-152.48, 53.63, 19

	

Investigator:           Project:
-------------           ----------
David Karl		HOT core sampling/UH
Paul Quay		DI13C and O isotopes/UW
Ricardo Letelier	optical measurements/OSU
Karin Björkman/Karl	phosphorus cycling/UH
Valerie Frank		silica cycling/UH
Matt Church/John Zehr	leucine uptake, DNA and RNA isolation/UCSC
Glen Pezzoli		XBT, XCTD work, transect P38/SIO
Steve Riser		ARGO floats/UW