JR206/JR246 Cruise,  departing Stanley Monday 18th January 2010

Once new information is available with regards to dates for the various elements of the science cruise,  I will post them here.

The following extract is taken from the Cruise Outline from the British Antarctic Survey website:

The main purpose of the cruise is to map the seafloor around the South Sandwich Islands and in parts of the Weddell Sea to provide a base map for future research in these areas. The main focus is on mapping the structure of the submarine parts of the volcanoes of the South Sandwich volcanic arc, in order to understand their evolution and to assess hazards from volcano instability, such as debris avalanches. The main equipment used will be the EM120 multibeam echo sounder on the James Clark Ross.  We will also be dredging volcanic features to determine composition, and using sub-bottom profiling (TOPAS) to determine structure. We will be surveying the area around the mouth of the Thiel Trough, near Halley in the Weddell Sea, the site of a major palaeoglacial icestream to determine the extent of former ice cover on the continental margin, and to search for large collapse structures. 

There are three main areas of interest that the scientists will be looking at:

a.     Southern part of the South Sandwich arc, 60 to 62 degrees S, 25 to 32 degrees W

b.    Weddell Sea, 60 to 75 degrees S, 15-32 degrees W.

c.     Continental shelf of the Weddell Sea, 74 to 78 degrees S, 25-45 degrees W

Having had a look at the HF Grid map,  the following grids may well be activated:  HB,HC,HE, IB and IC although until in the working area it will not be possible to confirm this.  There are lots of things that could affect the area of work,  although at that time of the year I would like to think that the Weddell Sea will be clear of ice. 

The RRS James Clark Ross is also tasked with making a visit to Halley Base in order to assist with taking out the summer staff,  and once onboard will proceed to Montevideo to disembark the scientists and Halley staff and prepare for the next cruise.