NF-POGO-IRD Fellowship for Shipboard Training on PIRATA cruises
Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) is a multinational (USA, Brazil and France) programme initiated in 1997. PIRATA constitutes the main observation network in the tropical Atlantic for climate prediction and research, studying air-sea interaction in the Tropical Atlantic to seasonal, interannual or longer timescale based on a network of 18 meteo-oceanic buoys dedicated to monitor and analyse air-sea exchange along with the oceanic thermohaline structure down to 500m depth.
The PIRATA cruises are primarily conducted to ensure the annual maintenance of six moored buoys located at: 23°W–0°N, 10°W–10°S, 10°W–6°S, 10°W–0°N, 3°W–0°N, and 10°W–20°S. In addition, maintenance is performed on one of the three current-meter moorings—specifically, the one positioned at 10°W–0°N.
These cruises also provide the opportunity for annual validation of oceanographic transits, with CTD-O₂/LADCP profiles collected along the 10°W and 23°W sections, complemented by XBT profiles along the cruise track.
Further activities may include the deployment of surface drifting buoys and ARGO profilers (for CORIOLIS), as well as extensive seawater sampling—both at the surface and during CTD-O₂ casts—for the analysis of various parameters. These include: dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients, pH, total alkalinity, carbon system variables (DIC and TA), isotopic composition (¹³C and ¹⁸O), primary production (chlorophyll pigments), and particulate organic matter (POM).
Additional continuous acoustic measurements (in the vertical plane) and measurements of CO₂ parameters may also be undertaken throughout the cruise.
See more at https://www.brest.ird.fr/pirata/pirata_cruises.php
Fellow onboard R/V Thalassa
2025 – Victor Ebolo Nkongo (Cameroon, Africa)