R/V Clifford Barnes and R/V Wecoma Research Cruise - July 2008

Project Name: I.5.6 Wecoma & Barnes: 07/10-28 & 07/07-14 ‘08 Chief Scientists: Joe Needoba and Byron Crump Vessels: R/V Clifford Barnes and R/V Wecoma Project Description This multi-platform campaign targeted fine-scale environmental gradients/events in the Columbia River, estuary, plume and coastal zone including fine-scale spatial and temporal sampling in the estuary to ground-truth SATURN station measurements, and high-resolution sampling of water masses in the coastal zone that were followed with surface drifters for 24-hr periods. We integrated numerical modeling into cruise planning efforts, and applied an adaptive sampling strategy for which we queried these models in near real-time during the cruise to decide on sampling locations/times.

We occupied a grid of stations in the Columbia River, Estuary, and Plume, and over the Oregon and Washington continental shelf and slope. We measured hydrographic (T, S, pressure), bio-optical (chlorophyll fluorescence, light transmission) chemical (nitrate, dissolved oxygen) and physical (ADCP subsurface velocity) parameters. We collected samples for DNA- and RNA-based microbial community analyses, primary and secondary production rates and water chemistry across environmental gradients in pelagic environments of the Columbia River, estuary, and plume, and along established sampling lines along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Sediment cores were taken at select sites, and we made continuous measurements of surface water chemistry with several devices attached to the seawater flow-through system.

Cruise Date: July 7‐24, 2008
Chief Scientist: Joe Needoba
Research Vessel: R/V Clifford Barnes
Data: Cruise Data

Cruise Objectives 1. Evaluate CMOP ocean observatory infrastructure and instrumentation. Ground‐truth SATURN‐01 and 03 stations and instrumentation.

2. Collect samples for microbial ecology investigations (extension of 2007 sampling program)

3. Biogeochemistry measurements across river‐to‐ocean domain

4. Adaptive sampling exercises to measure salt intrusion and ETM dynamics

Detailed Cruise Plan Barnes cruise plan (.pdf)

Cruise date: July 10-28
Chief Scientist: Byron Crump
Research Vessel: R/V Wecoma
Blog: Chief Scientist
VBlog: Cruise Videos
Data: Cruise Data

Cruise Objectives

1.Occupy a grid of stations over the Oregon and Washington continental shelf and slope to measure hydrographic (T, S, pressure), bio-optical (chlorophyll fluorescence, light transmission) and chemical (nitrate, dissolved oxygen) parameters. Combine these data with ADCP measurements of subsurface velocity to explore biophysical interactions.

2.Collect water samples for membrane lipid and DNA- and RNA-based microbial community analyses, bacterial production and primary production rates and water chemistry studies across environmental gradients in pelagic environments of the Columbia River estuary, the Columbia River plume, the Columbia River estuary and along established sampling lines along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Estuary sampling will be coordinated with the R/V Barnes, which will be sampling the Estuarine Turbidity Maxima in the North and South Channels.

3.Collect surface sediments in Columbia River, estuary, plume and at a few sites on coastal lines using a multicore.

4.Make continuous measurements of surface water chemistry with several devices attached to the continuous flow seawater system.

5. Feature Tracking exercise using the SWAP system and model-based now-cast/forecast system to follow the Columbia River Plume.

6. Two 24-hour Surface Water Mass Tracking surveys using the SWAP system and model-based now-cast/forecast system to follow coastal water starting at NH-10 and the Columbia River Plume beginning at the end of a strong ebb tide. Dye releases may be used.

Detailed Cruise Plan Wecoma cruise plan (.doc)