Cruise Update - Process Cruise 6 - TTN-053
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Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 17:05:18 -0500
 

Report from Process Cruise 6

    We are in the last part of our first feature investigation before
continuing with the JGOFS line. So far we have sampled Arabesque
stations in the Gulf of Oman, and then crossed the front at Ras Al
Hadd.  UOR tow results and underway fluorescence, temperature,
salinity, pH, and light scattering are showing interesting details of
the front. We sampled JGOFS station 1 before departing from the JGOFS
pattern for a brief sawtooth UOR survey of the front, using real time
satellite imagery from Bob Arnone's system to guide us.

Currently we are in an anticyclonic feature NW of the front for a 12h
station, to be followed by a 1.5d frontal station (chlorophyll values
at the front are about 8 mg/m3), then a 12h station SE of the front.
The frontal evolution over the last 3 days will make for a very
interesting story. We will then resume with the JGOFS station at 21o
11'NX 63o 33'E.  The phytoplankton community north of the front was
mostly small dinoflagellates and pennate diatoms. On the front, it is
large diatoms, then the community changes to a more oligotrophic
composition south of the front.  Prochlorophytes are abundant just
north of the front and out of the high chlorophyll water.  Nitrate
concentrations north of the front are <0.3uM.  The ship's crew, marine
technicians, and the HydroTeam are all marvelous, and the food is
great.

William M. Balch is sci-01@thompson.ocean.washington.edu