CAVASSOO CRUISES

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The ships of opportunity network includes 4 routes:

• The Nuka-Arctica line
• The Germany-North America line
  • Schedule of the cruises
• The UK-Caribbean line
  • Schedule of the cruises
• The Spain-Antarctica line
  • Schedule of the cruises

The network is now operational and data are collected on the different lines.

The Nuka-Arctica line

This line runs approximately monthly from Aalborg in Denmark to Nuuk in West Greenland. The R/V Nuka Arctica is a cargo ship (shown below) operated by Royal Arctic Line. She is equipped with a thermosalinograph.

The Germany-North America line

A comprehensive system for measurement of the CO2 partial pressure in seawater and air, sea surface temperature and salinity as well as chlorophyll fluorescence has been installed on the M/V Falstaff (see photo below), which is a car carrier run by the Wallenius Lines of Stockholm, Sweden. The CO2 measurement system was built at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Japan (Dr. Yukihiro Nojiri) and was given to the Institute of Marine Research, Kiel, Germany on long-term loan. The thermosalinograph used to measure sea surface temperature and salinity is owned by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency with whom the Institute of Marine Research Research, Kiel is co-operating in this project. The Falstaff operates on a six-week roundtrip connecting European ports such as Bremerhaven, Gothenburg, Zeebrugge, Southampton and Santander with North American ports such as New York, Charleston, Brunswick, Galveston, Vera Cruz and Jacksonville. Measurements have started in January 2002.

Heike Lueger collected discrete samples for nutrients, chlorophyll, dissolved organic carbon, and carbon isotopes at regular intervals during the crossing (22 February-7 March 2002). She reported that the cooperation of the Falstaff officers and crew was outstanding.

Schedule of the cruises of the M/V Falstaff

The UK-Caribbean line

CO2 was recorded along this route from 1994 to 1995 on board the M/V Prince of Seas which allowed a study of the seasonal variability.

A CO2 system has been installed on the M/V Santa Lucia (shown below) chartered by Geest Bananas (http://www.geest.com) who trade between Portsmouth (UK) and the Windward Islands (Caribbean). The ship is a reefer: its hull can be temperature and atmosphere controlled to avoid the overripening of the bananas. One round trip is 35 days. The details of the CO2 system and the travel diaries can be found on the fieldwork web page of UEA's Laboratory for Global Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry (LGMAC).

The M/V Santa Lucia is no longer doing the UK-Caribbean route and the pCO2 system had to be removed in July 2002. It is installed on the sister ship the M/V Santa Maria (shown below).

Schedule of the cruises on board the M/V Santa Lucia and the M/V Santa Maria

CRUISE #	DATE	MEASUREMENTS
M/V Santa Lucia 25A	February 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Lucia 25C	March 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Lucia 27A	May 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 30A	July 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 30C	August 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 31A	August 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 32A	September 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 32C	Sep.-Oct. 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 33A	October 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 33C	October 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 34A	November 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 34C	November 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 35C	December 2002	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 36A	January 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 36C	January 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 37A	February 2003	Underway pCO2, SST
M/V Santa Maria 38C	March 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 39C	April 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 40C	May 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 41A	June 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 41C	June 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 42A	July 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 42C	Jul.-Aug. 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 43A	August 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 43C	August 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 45A	October 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction
M/V Santa Maria 46A	Oct.-Nov. 2003	Underway pCO2, SST, S, wind speed, wind direction

The Spain-Antarctica line

The R/V Hespérides (shown below) is an Antarctic supply vessel which runs twice a year. She is equipped with a thermosalinograph, nutrient and fluorescence sensors and research is carried out along the route.

Schedule of the cruises on board the R/V Hespérides: