SOCIB_CanalesSpring23
The present Canales cruise have the following objectives:
[1] To make a complete SOCIB-Canales CTD section across the Ibiza Channel (IC) and a RADMED CTD section across the Mallorca Channel (MC) consisting of 20 stations in total. The purpose of these sections are seasonal calibration periods for the near continuous Glider monitoring of the IC. Measurements are made with the SeaBird SBE9 + instrument and the oceanographic Niskin bottle rosette for water samples at different depths.
[2] To make continuous current profile sections of the IC and MC (in total 4 sections) using the vessel mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (VM-ADCP). These sections are for comparison with model forecasts and to support depth averaged velocity (DAV) calculations from glider data. R/V SOCIB is equipped with a RDI 150 kHz Ocean Surveyor VM-ADCP.
[3] Perform a synchronized CTD cast with the simultaneously operating SOCIB glider in Ibiza Channel as close as possible with minimum depth of 500m. The purpose of this cast is the intercalibration of the Glider data with the measurements made with the SeaBird SBE9 + instrument and the oceanographic Niskin bottle rosette for water samples at different depths.
[4] Continue the periodical microplastic sampling on board of the RV SOCIB across the Mallorca Channel (MC) and one transect across the Ibiza Channel (IC) consisting of 8 sampling periods in each section. The main objective is to obtain a current status of the distribution of floating plastic debris, and to verify its correspondence with the forecasting models.
[5] Initiate a periodical water sampling on board of the RV SOCIB across the Mallorca Channel (MC) and one transect across the Ibiza Channel (IC) to measure pH and total alkalinity at different depths. The main aim is to evaluate the present status of the carbonate system variables in the oceanic area composed by the MC and IC.
In addition, the RV SOCIB will be used as ship of opportunity to realize the following tasks:
[6] Deployment of a total of 1 surface drifter (SVP-B) in the IC to maintain an active fleet per year of 8 surface drifters as part of the Global Drifter Program (GDP). This program has two principal objectives; 1) maintain a global 5 x 5 degree, which is increased to 3 x 3 degree for the Mediterranean Sea, array of satellite-tracked surface drifting buoys to meet the need of in situ observations and, 2) provide a data processing system for scientific use of these data.
[7] Continuation of the pilot study for eDNA metabarcoding with eDNA sampling in 4 stations in the Ibiza Channel (in coordination with Valencia University) in combination with acoustic monitoring by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-SplashDrone