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This study highlights the extensive research cruise experience of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) in nutrient studies for the UK-Geotraces program. PML has the analytical capability to measure various nutrients in the water column, including ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate, and chlorophyll. The study also discusses the proposed 400 South transect track and the importance of quality control measures in nutrient analyses.
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Nutrient studies for UK-Geotraces 400 South Malcolm Woodward Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, United Kingdom Geotraces, March 24th, 2009
Nutrient capability at PML: • Extensive research cruise experience over past 15 years, programme involvement include AMT (Atlantic Meridional Transect), 18 full Atlantic cruises over 12 years UK to/from Falklands/South Africa. SOLAS cruises, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Antarctic. • Analytical Capability: • Would deploy on board a 5-channel segmented-flow colorimetric autoanalyser, for Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Silicate and Ammonium. .
Nutrients within Geotraces: Analytical Capability: Ammonium within the water column of the South Atlantic region is found at Nanomolar concentrations, continental shelves and also a maximum concentration zone at the chlorophyll maximum but other than that is low level. For reliable results would deploy a Fluorimetric gas diffusion analyser which also gives nanomolar detection.
AMT 17 Cruise Track Composite Atlantic Chlorophyll, September/October
Nitrate+Nitrite (uM) Atlantic Ocean Macro-Nutrient Structure Phosphate (uM) AMT-17, Nov, 2005
Geotraces cruise The Atlantic 400 South Section: The proposed 40 South transect track covers a wide range of nutrient concentrations and will show large gradients with different water masses being present across the transect: Antarctic bottom Water, North Atlantic deep etc and also influence of the Antarctic circumpolar current. Quality Control: Work to WOCE/Geotraces protocols Geotraces protocols advice Certified reference Materials be used. New global programme called INSS which is at present developing and calibrating nutrient reference materials, this will be complete by end 2009. Will have access to these samples for Geotraces. An important advance for certifying nutrient analyses
Cruise Requirements, Final slide: Stations to be measured: All 24 full depth stations, or more as sampled, important to acquire good transect nutrient coverage Any requirements for other experiments ? Sediment studies ? Volume of water at each depth: 500 mls (to include washings) Berths required: 2 Salary: approx 2 months time to include prep, cruise, demob, Data work up and quality control Specialist equipment on board: 5 channel nutrient autoanalyser Nanomolar nutrient analyser Can be flexible to other requirements.
Quality of data, quality control, current situation: Take all sampling and analytical precautions to avoid contamination as detailed before Used ‘aged’ low nutrient sea-water to make up working standards Thank You
Science Cruise Logistics for UK-Geotraces 400 South Malcolm Woodward Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, United Kingdom Geotraces, March 24th, 2009
. Co-ordination of the Science Cruise Logistics: Successful programme with 5 of UK-SOLAS cruises in last 3 years and all the international AMT cruises. Experienced team. Work with PSO, all scientists, and NMF at NOCS. to co-ordinate shipping etc. Attend pre-cruise meetings and advise as required. Co-ordinate all equipment shipping to Mob port and also dealing with haz chems, gases, radioactives for shipping etc. Co-ordinate return from demob port of all equipment. Help with clearances to FCO as required. Assemble and advise for all paperwork for Health and Safety, COSHH, safe working practices, all personal details like sea survival, medical, dental, competence etc Webpage would be set up within main UK-Geotraces pages or at PML. Chase up all scientists and Submit all paperwork to NMF when required. Organise flights, single flexible Marine fares.
Requirements, Final slide: Salary: approx 2 weeks each for 2 people Could include all freight costs within submission and also all International flight costs, hence remove this from each individual groups costs. Centrally organised, more efficient, no transfers of finances
Quality of data, quality control, current situation: Take all sampling and analytical precautions to avoid contamination as detailed before Used ‘aged’ low nutrient sea-water to make up working standards Thank You-again
Nanomolar Ammonium Nanomolar Nitrite Chlorophyll-a (mg m-3)