Abstract

The purpose of this cruise was to measure the interhemispheric gradient of radiatively important trace species in the atmosphere, to quantify the ocean's effect on these trace gases in the surface waters, to measure the biological rate of production of dissolved N₂O, and to compare these measurements to those from CMDL observatories.

Methods and list of measured compounds:

 

Gas chromatograph / electron capture detector (surface water):
CFC-12	CCl2F2
CFC-11	CCl3F
CFC-113	CCl3CF3
Methyl chloroform	CH3CCl3
Carbon tetrachloride	CCl4
Nitrous Oxide  (also at depth)	N2O

Cruise Participants:

James H. Butler (legs 1a, 2)

Thayne M. Thompson (leg 1a)

Brad Halter (legs 1a, 2, 3, 4)

Christina Brunsen (leg 3, 4)

Ron D. Jones (leg 2)

The Platform:

The NOAA Ship Discoverer, R 102, is about 93m long, cruises at about 14-16 knots maximum speed, and is staffed with around 50 crew members with a maximum capacity of about 40 scientists. It was one of the largest scientific vessels in the NOAA fleet and operated out of Seattle, Washington until it was retired in 1996. The main laboratory was located on main deck level close to the stern. The portholes of this lab can be seen in this picture left of the ladder from the raft that is tied to the ship.

Cruise Track:

RITS 89 is shown in magenta through the East Pacific Ocean, out and back into Seattle, Washington. 

Contacts:

James H. Butler +1 303 497 6898 (tel) 6290 (fax) jbutler@cmdl.noaa.gov

Publications

Oceanic Consumption of CH₃CCl₃: Implications for Tropospheric OH, J.H. Butler, J.W. Elkins, T.M. Thompson, and B.D. Hall, J. Geophys. Res., 96D, 22347-22355 (1991).

Data & Graphs

Data is available on our anonymous FTP account ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov, subdir /hats/rits_89.