VEX 2001 Cruise

Barbados - Barbados

Chief Scientist: Michael McCartney

This research cruise onboard the Research Vessel Oceanus (cruise number 365 leg 5) took place from March 28, 2001 and April 8, 2001.  The work area is shown in the chart above.  Four full depth CTD profiles with sampling for salinity were collected (red diamonds).

The VEX primary moored array was deployed across the VFZ at 42°40´W and is scheduled to be recovered in April 2002. At this location the flat floor is 5180 m water depth, with high sidewalls defining a 16 km wide channel. The array's 5 moorings all have near bottom current meters with temperature sensors (VACMs) half-hourly averaging currents and temperatures. Moorings 2 and 4 (green circles) are each 7-VACM moorings 1500 m tall spanning the bottom water and LNADW . Moorings 1, 3, and 5 (red circles) have Moored Profilers above their single VACMs, which will make time series profiles of temperature, salinity, and currents spanning to 2270 m above the bottom across the bottom water and LNADW into the MNADW. The profilers are programmed to make four profiles a day and skip a day between these bursts, enabling nominal one-year missions. A fourth profiler mooring was deployed near 44°47´W at a location where the otherwise rather linear zonal sidewalls of the VFZ pinch significantly together making a factor of three narrower cross-section with concomitant acceleration of the eastward flow. Extensive supportive hydrographic stations and SEABEAM bathymetry will be made during the recovery cruise, including five 5-station cross sections and additional stations along the axes to resolve the longitudinal structure of isotherms.