Water column data from 22 XBT launched during the IMPULS cruise.

Water column data from 5 XBT launched during the MARSIBAL I-06 cruise

Water column data from 37 XBT launched during the SWIM cruise.

The RRS Discovery cruise 304 was conducted from 12 May to 6 June 2005 from and to Santa Cruz (Tenerife). The cruise was completed as part of the NERC founded RAPID programme to monitor the meridional overturning circulation at 26 N. The primary purpose was to service the eastern boundary and Mid-Atlantic Ridge part of the 26 N mooring array which had previously been serviced during the RRS Charles Darwin cruises 170 and 177. 12 moorings were successfully recovered, however two of the shallow eastern boundary moorings failed to release. Intense fishing activity at these sites is likely to be the cause. 12 mooring and four bottom pressure landers were re-deployed. Data from two bottom mounted inverted echosounders was uploaded via acoustic telemetry. A total of 10 CTD casts to calibrate the mooring sensors were carried out and 3 Argo floats (from the UK Met Office) were launched. The moored sensors are CTD loggers for the most part but also bottom pressure sensors, different types of current meters and inverted echosounders are used to determine the strength and structure of the meridional overturning circulation.

Hydrographical cruise W Iberian peninsula and Celtic-Cantabrian sea. 65 depth CTD, 2 RCM moorings, LADCP

Acoustic survey, conducted with an annual periodicity, to assess and map the pelagic (neritic) resources and the oceanographic and biological conditions of the Gulf of Cadiz continental shelf (both Spanish and Portuguese waters, ICES Subdivision IXa South). The survey season coincides with the anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) peak spawning in order to estimate the anchovy SSB by echo-integration. The acoustic sampling for assessment by echo-integration is performed during daylight hours. Biological characterization of the pelagic community is sampled by opportunistic pelagic trawls (for identification of echo-traces), which are also performed during the day. Ancillary biological information (fish eggs) sampled with CUFES (Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler) and coupled to the acoustic sampling. Occurrence of sea birds, turtles, and mammals is also recorded along the acoustic transects. Oceanographic characterization of the surveyed area from both discrete (CTD profiles in night stations) and continuous sampling (Thermosalinometer-fluorimeter) coupled to the CUFES sampling. Additional night pelagic trawls were also performed in order to collate some extra biological material and to carry out specific experiments (e.g., in situ determination of the anchovy target strength, TS; nictimeral behavior?).

Identifying possible bioconstructions and other geo-morphological structures of interest. Biological fish studies and hidrographic sampling (CTD) over the seamounts