Polar Ocean Ecosystem Time Series – Western Core Box (POETS-WCB)
The POETS-WCB cruise commenced in 1996. It’s main deliverable is a consistent unique time-series of mesoscale distribution and abundance of macro-zooplankton and micronekton, and an understanding of the physical environment they are within at South Georgia, South Atlantic. These data are used to inform on the long term variability of Antarctic krill biomass at South Georgia and the influences from climate variability, fishing pressure and predation.
BAS also maintains moorings both on the South Georgia shelf and in the open ocean region of the Scotia Sea. The open ocean sustained observations in the area are carried out as part of the SCOOBIES (SCotia sea Open-Ocean BIological laboratoriES) programme, with a primary purpose to consider the flux of carbon to deep ocean layers as well as monitoring ocean chemistry parameters, particular in relation to ocean acidification. This moored instrumentation complements the WCB surveys by providing year round temporal sampling of environmental conditions and acoustic backscatter.
The cruise consists of acoustics surveys, CTDs, a variety of zooplankton nets (bongo, MOCNESS (Multiple Opening and Closing Net and Environmental Sampling System), RMT8 and 25 (Rectangular Midwater Trawl), underway logged data and mooring refurbishment and redeployment.
Extracted from Ocean Training Partnership
NF-POGO Fellows
2019 – Rodrigo Hernandez Moresino (Latin America)