FRONTALIS 1
Type | Oceanographic cruise |
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Set | This cruise is part of the set FRONTALIS |
Ship | Alis |
Ship owner | IRD |
Dates | 29/03/2001 - 26/04/2001 |
Chief scientist(s) | DELCROIX Thierry |
IRD ANTENNE DE TOULOUSE LEGOS/OMP Observatoire Midi-Pyrenees 14, av. Edouard Belin 31400 TOULOUSE |
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DOI | 10.17600/1100030 |
Objective | The objectives of the FRONTALIS cruise were to observe and understand the mechanisms that govern the frontal zone situated on the eastern edge of the "warm pool" of the west-equatorial Pacific. The cruise also continued the series of cruises along 165 deg E that were started in 1984 to better appraise decadal variability. During this cruise, a subsurface ADCP-TAO mooring was deployed at 0 deg-165 E and meteorological sensors were changed on the TAO moorings at 8 deg S-165 deg E, as part of the French (IRD) contribution to the Pacific TAO network. This cruise fell under the IRD tropical Pacific Ocean climate (ECOP) study with the UMR LEGOS, the national climate dynamics program (PNEDC), and the International Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) program. Comments on the cruise's progression: La Nina conditions were encountered in the equatorial zone. Marked zonal front near 0 deg-157 deg E in nutrients and CO2, with weak surface salinity. Presence of barrier layer in the equatorial band and the subduction zone to the west of O deg-165 deg E. Problem with winding the cable on the hydrological winch: depths of stations were thus limited to 0-500 m instead of 0-1000 m. It is imperative that the winch be replaced in order to preserve the scientific equipment (CTD and L_ADCP) for future cruises. |