HOT-211: Chief Scientist Report

Chief Scientist: F. SANTIAGO-MANDUJANO

             HOT-211 Chief Scientist's Cruise Report
                     R/V Ka'Imikai-O-Kanaloa
                      May 26 - 30, 2009

Cruise ID: KOK0909
Departed:  May 26, 2009 at 0900 (HST)
Returned:  May 30, 2009 at 0800
Vessel:  R/V Ka'Imikai-O-Kanaloa
Operator:  University of Hawaii
Master of the Vessel: Captain Ross Barnes
Chief Scientist: Fernando Santiago-Mandujano
OTG Electronics/Deck Operations Technicians: Daniel Fitzgerald, Elly Speicher
                                             

1.  SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

 The objective of this cruise was to maintain a collection of
hydrographic and biogeochemical data at the Hawaii Ocean Time-series
(HOT) stations. Four stations were to be occupied during the cruise,
in the following order:

1) Station 1, referred to as Station Kahe, is located at 21 20.6'N,
158 16.4'W and was to be occupied on the first cruise day for about 2 hours.

2) Station 2: ALOHA (A Long Term Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment) is 
defined as a circle with a 6 nautical mile radius centered at 22 45'N, 
158W. This is the main HOT Station and was to be occupied for 3 days 
from May 27 to 29.

3) Station 50, is the site of the WHOTS Mooring, located at 22° 46'N, 
157° 53.83'W was to be occupied on the 4th day of the cruise for about 1 hour.

4) Two bottom moored sediment traps were to be deployed on the 4th day of the
cruise at the northeastern edge of the ALOHA circle (22 51.75'N, 157 55.00'W).


 A single CTD cast was to be conducted at Station 1 to collect
continuous profiles of various physical and chemical parameters. Water
samples were to be collected at discrete depths for biogeochemical
measurements. After these operations, the ship was to transit to
Station ALOHA.

 Upon arrival at Station ALOHA, the free-drifting sediment trap array
was to be deployed. The sediment trap array was to stay in the water
for about 52 hours. This was to be followed by one 200 m CTD cast
to collect water for incubation experiments, and one 1000-m CTD cast to
collect water for the primary production array. This was to be followed by the 
deployment of the array with incubation experiments (primary production array) 
that was to be in the water for 12 hours.  A full-depth CTD cast was to be 
conducted afterwards, followed by 1000-m CTD casts at strict 3 hour intervals 
for at least 36 hours for continuous and discrete data collection, ending with 
another full-depth CTD cast.

 Another free-drifting array (gas array) was to be deployed for 24 hours for 
incubation experiments on May 28 

 A plankton net was to be towed near noon and midnight for 30-min intervals
on May 27 and 28 at Station ALOHA.

 After CTD work at Station ALOHA was accomplished, the ship was to
transit to recover the floating sediment trap array and the gas array. 

 After recovering the arrays, the ship was to transit to Station 50 to conduct 
a one-hour 200-m CTD yo-yo cast

 After station 50 was occupied, the ship was to transit to Sta. ALOHA to conduct
a PRR cast, and two AC9 casts, after which the ship was to transit to 
deploy the sediment trap moorings.

 Two sediment trap moorings were to be deployed in the northeastern edge of the
ALOHA circle, after which the ship was to transit back to Snug Harbor.

A trace metal sampler was to be deployed on May 28 to collect a trace 
metal clean surface seawater sample.

 A Profiling Reflectance Radiometer (PRR) was to be deployed for half-hour
periods near noon time on May 26, 28 and 29. After the PRR, a Hyerpro was
to be deployed also for half-hour periods on May 26 and 28.

 A package including a Wet Labs AC9, and a SeaBird Seacat was to be used to 
profile the upper 200 m at Sta. ALOHA at noon time on May 28 and 29.

 The following instruments were to collect data throughout the cruise: 
shipboard ADCP, thermosalinograph, and two anemometers.


2.  	SCIENCE PERSONNEL

 Cruise Participant		 Title				Affiliation

Susan Curless			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Eric Grabowski			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Adriana Harlan			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Binglin Li			Graduate Student			UH/BEACH
Dan Sadler			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Brett Updyke			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Blake Watkins			Marine Engineer				UH/BEACH
Jay Wheeler			Research Associate			UH/BEACH
Ghizlane Ahrouch		Research Associate			UH/PO
Ian Hawkins			Research Associate			UH/PO
Paul Lethaby			Research Associate			UH/PO
Fernando Santiago-Mandujano	Chief Scientist - Res. Assoc.		UH/PO
Jefrey Snyder			Marine Technician			UH/PO 
Bert Wissig			Graduate Student			HPU/PO
Dan Fitzgerald			Marine Technician			OTG
Elly Speicher	   		Marine Technician			OTG	

3.  GENERAL SUMMARY

 Operations during the cruise were conducted as planned, with minor delays in 
the schedule due to computer failures. One PRR cast was canceled due to 
computer failure. 
 
 One 1000-m CTD cast was conducted at Kahe station. Twelve 1000-m CTD
casts, one 200-m, one 100-m, and two deep casts were conducted at Station
ALOHA. One 200-m CTD yo-yo cast was conducted near the WHOTS mooring (station
50).

 The array of floating sediment traps, the primary productivity
and gas incubation arrays were deployed and recovered without problems.

 Two near-bottom moorings with two sediment traps each were successfully
deployed on the last day of the cruise.

 Three net tows were conducted at night and three during the day.

 The AC9 was deployed near noon on May 28 and 29.

 The PRR was deployed two times near noon time. The Hyperpro was deployed
 two times.

 A trace metal sample was taken (ATE).

 The ADCP ran without interruption throughout the cruise, as well as the
thermosalinograph system. There was no heading correction for the gyro, as
the MAHRS was sent out for recalibration. This will affect the underway ADCP 
data, but not the on-station data. 

 The ship's A-frame performance was marginal due to a hydraulic fluid leak 
through a broken gasket. Nevertheless, it was possible to conduct the net tows, 
AC9, PRR and Hyperpro deployments with the A-frame, turning it on and off 
between operations. The two sediment trap mooring deployments were conducted 
using the ship's port crane.

 Winds during the cruise were between 7 and 9 kt, from the NE, with
smooth seas and clear skies the first and last days, and with light drizzle the
second and part of the third day.

 We arrived back at Snug Harbor on May 30 at 0800. 

 
4.  R/V Ka'Imikai-O-Kanaloa, OFFICERS AND CREW, TECHNICAL SUPPORT

 The R/V Ka'Imikai-O-Kanaloa continues to maintain the excellent ship
support for our work. The officers and crew were most helpful and
accommodating.  They showed enthusiasm and concern for our work and
were very flexible in receiving changes in our operational schedule.
They were very helpful in assisting the science party during the equipment 
loading.

 Technical support during this cruise was excellent. OTG personnel were
available at any time during the cruise to assist in our work and made things 
much easier for us. OTG personnel were not available during loading due
to schedule conflicts, but the ship's crew were able to assist us with the 
loading operations.

5.  DAILY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES (HST)

May 22, 2009; Loading Day

 The equipment was loaded on this day. 

26 May 2009

Hour (HST)   Activity
0900      Departed from Snug harbor
0930      Abandon ship and fire drills, followed by safety briefing
          and science meeting
1200      Arrived at Kahe Station. 400 lb weight cast to 500 m
1300      PRR cast
1330      Hyperpro cast
1440      Station 1 Cast 1, 1000-m CTD cast. Problems with acquisition computer.
          Switched to backup computer and completed cast.

27 May 2009

Hour (HST)   Activity
0145      Arrived at ALOHA station
0237      Deployed sediment traps at 22 42.12'N, 158 0.75'W
0311      Station 2 cast 1, 200-m CTD cast
0500      Deployed primary productivity array at 22 43'N, 158 0.2'W
0522      Station 2 cast 2 100-m CTD cast
0620      Station 2 cast 3, deep CTD cast
1015      Net tow
1140      Station 2 cast 4, 1000-m CTD cast
1345      Net tow
1431      Station 2 cast 5, 1000-m CTD cast
1655      Station 2 cast 6, 1000-m CTD cast
1900      Recovered primary productivity array at 22 41.7'N, 158 2.09'W
2006      Station 2 cast 7, 1000-m CTD cast
2200      Net tow
2300      Station 2 cast 8, 1000-m CTD cast


28 May 2009

0100      Net tow
0205      Station 2 cast 9, 1000-m CTD cast
0420      Deployed Gas array at 22 43.64'N, 158 0.08'W
0450      Station 2 cast 10, 1000-m CTD cast
0700      ATE sample taken
0756      Station 2 cast 11, 1000-m CTD cast
1015      Net tow
1100      Station 2 cast 12, 1000-m CTD cast
1220      PRR cast after two unsuccessful attempts, during the first one the 
	  PRR drifted away from the ship due to a surface current, and during 
	  the second the PRR tilted from its vertical position.
1310      Hyperpro cast
1345      AC9 cast
1435      Station 2 cast 13, 1000-m CTD cast
1700      Station 2 cast 14, 1000-m CTD cast
1808      Transit to pump ship's tanks
2004      Station 2 cast 15, 1000-m CTD cast
2200      Net tow
2300      Station 2 cast 16, deep CTD cast

 Winds from NNE at 7 Kt with clear sky and smooth seas.


29 May 2009

0440      Recovered sediment traps array at 22 37.6'N, 158 5.28'W
0600      Recovered Gas array at 22 40.0'N, 158 3.06'W
0830      Station 50 cast 1, 200-m CTD yo-yo cast, 200-m from WHOTS buoy
1005      AC9 cast
1100      AC9 cast
1237      PRR's computer crashed before PRR cast. Unable to conduct cast.
1438      Deployed Sediment Traps Mooring #14, 22 51.744'N, 157 55.12'W
1602      Deployed Sediment Traps Mooring #15, 22 51.801'N, 157 53.319'W

  Easterly winds at 9 Kt.
  
May 30, 2009

 Arrived at Snug Harbor at 0800. Full off-load.


HOT program sub-components:

Investigator:                   Project/Institution:
-----------------               --------------------
Dave Karl			Core Biogeochemistry/UH
Roger Lukas			Hydrography/UH
Bob Bidigare                    HPLC pigments/UH
Mike Landry			Zooplankton dynamics/UH
Mark Abbott/Ricardo Letelier    Optical measurements/OSU

Ancillary programs:

Investigator:                   Project/Institution:
-----------------               --------------------
Charles Keeling                 CO2 dynamics and intercalibration/SIO
Paul Quay			DI13C and O isotopes/UW
Penny Chisholm			Prochlorococcus population dynamics/MIT
Zehr/Church/Montoya/Carter	Diversity and activities of nitrogen-fixing
				microorganisms/UH
Various CMORE PI's		CMORE RNA/DNA sampling/UH
Mark Brzeznski  		Silica production and dissolution rate
                  		measurments/UCSB

Additional programs

Investigator:                   Project/Institution:
-----------------              	 --------------------
Edward Boyle			Trace metals/MIT
Sam Wilson                      Reduced gases in the upper ocean: The cycling
                                of methane, sulfide and nitrous oxide/CMORE/UH
                                
Additional sampling during this cruise

Investigator:                   Project/Institution:
-----------------              	 --------------------
Kristen Fogaren/Eric DeCarlo	Kilo Nalu Nearshore Reef Observatory Project/UH
Solange Duhamel			The role of alkaline phosphatase activity in DOP 
				utilisation in the NPSG/CMORE/UH
Huei-Ting Lin/James Cowen	Subseafloor biosphere project/UH


