The U.S. JGOFS (Joint Global Ocean Flux Study): Antarctic Environment and Southern Ocean Process Study (AESOPS) program involves a series of 11 research cruises (7 aboard the R/V N.B. Palmer and 4 aboard the R/V Roger Revelle) studying a range of topics related to biogeochemical cycles, but with a focus on the role of the Southern Ocean in the global carbon cycle. Principal geographic areas in which AESOPS research will take place include the Ross Sea and the Antarctic Polar Front Zone at approximately 57oS to 63oS along 170oW.
The principal geographic area of JGOFS/AESOPS research to be conducted aboard the Roger Revelle lies along the north-south transect at 170 degrees west, from 57 degrees S to 63 degrees S, well outside of the New Zealand EEZ. However, a number of investigators within the program wish to collect additional samples and data while the ship is underway into and out of port.
The scheduled dates of the JGOFS/AESOPS cruises are:
Cruise Dates Chief Scientist Survey I 20 Oct - 24 Nov, 97 Tim Cowles, Oregon State Univ. Process I 30 Nov - 03 Jan, 98 Dick Barber, Duke Univ. Survey II 08 Jan - 08 Feb, 98 Kenneth Coale, Moss Landing Marine Lab Process II 13 Feb - 19 Mar, 98 Wilf Gardner, Texas A&MIn addition, scientists would like to place instruments aboard the Revelle during its transit from Hawaii to New Zealand to collect data on the atmospheric concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
The types of instrumental data to be collected within the New Zealand EEZ during the 4 AESOPS cruises mentioned above include:
a) underway meteorology; b) underway sea surface temperature and salinity; c) underway fluorescence; d) total carbon dioxide content of surface sea water and of air; e) partial pressure of carbon dioxide in surface sea water and air; f) concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere. g) Sea Beam bathymetryThe types of samples to be collected within the New Zealand EEZ for processing either aboard ship or back in the investigators' laboratories include: a) samples of particulate matter filtered from surface sea water, to be analyzed for organic carbon content, and for the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of the organic matter; b) samples of sea water to be analyzed for nutrient concentration (nitrate, phosphate and silicate) and for the nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate; c) samples of sea water to be analyzed for the carbon isotopic composition of total dissolved carbon dioxide; and d) samples of seawater to be analyzed for determination of dissolved organic carbon concentration. All sampling and data collection is planned to take place while the ship is underway in transit to/from the port of Lyttelton, roughly along a line between Lyttelton and the transect at 170 degrees W.