Cruise Report C-203 : Scientific data collected aboard SSV Corwith Cramer, Key West – Roatan, Honduras – Key West, 8 February 2006 – 18 March 2006

Abstract

This cruise report provides a record of data collected aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer during cruise C-203 (U.S. State Department Cruise 2005-096), which departed from Key West, FL on 8 February 2006 and transited through the Florida Straits, the Sargasso Sea, and the Caribbean Sea before returning to Key West on 18 March 2006 (Figure 1). During the six week voyage we collected samples or data at 84 discrete oceanographic stations (Table 1), surface samples at 110 locations (Table 2), and we continuously sampled water depth and sub-bottom profiles (CHIRP system), upper ocean currents (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, or ADCP), and sea surface temperature, salinity and in vivo fluorescence (seawater flow-through system). This report summarizes sea surface chemical and biological characteristics (Tables 2 and 3), chemical properties with depth (Table 4), and surface sediment properties (Table 5). Lengthy CTD, CHIRP, ADCP, and flow-through data are not reported here. All unpublished data can be made available by arrangement with the Sea Education Association (SEA) data archivist (contact information, p. 2). The information in this report is not intended to represent final interpretation of the data and should not be excerpted or cited without written permission from SEA. As part of SEA’s educational program, students conduct oceanographic research at sea for studies they have designed prior to the cruise. Student projects span the four major disciplines of oceanography – physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography (Table 6). Student research efforts culminate in a written paper and an oral presentation to the ship’s company. The student research papers from cruise C-203 are available upon request from SEA.