BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

OCEANSAC-1 Cruise (29HE20021115) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2002, The campaign aims to collect bio-optical and hydrological data for the calibration of the MMRS space sensor that operates on the Argentine satellite SAC-C

TEMPANO Cruise (29HE20021123) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2002, The main objective of the project is to quantify experimentally how temperature affects the regulation of metabolic processes and possible changes in the structure of Antarctic planktonic communities and the implications this implies globally. These communities are composed of unicellular microorganisms that have sizes from less than 1 micron in diameter (bacterioplankton and archaea) to a few tens of microns (phytoplankton and protozoa) and multicellular organisms such as zooplankton (small crustaceans, krill). Phytoplankton are constituted by photosynthetic organisms, whereas bacterioplankton, protozoa (ciliates and flagellates) and zooplankton are mostly heterotrophs (consumers of organic matter, either dissolved and particulate). Part of this matter is breathed and returned to the environment in the form of CO2. The mere fact that the water temperature will increase 0.5 and 1 degree in an extreme system such as Antarctica will likely result in increased respiration (CO2 excretion) by heterotrophic organisms which, in part, could be fixed by phytoplankton. , or in the worst case, it could be released into the atmosphere, promoting the greenhouse effect and the global warming of the planet. Experiments related to primary production and temperature and light have been carried out

BREDDIES Cruise (29HE20021227) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2002, Mesoscale vortices/meanders in the central portion of the Bransfield Strait: identification and physical–biological coupling-BREDDIES. The general objective of this project is their identification and the study of the coupling between the underlying physical processes and the plankton community. With this aim an interdisciplinary sampling was conducted in the region, with spatial resolution and a degree of interdisciplinary interaction not previously carried on. Through the observations we aim at gaining a better physical and biological characterization of these structures as well as understanding the adjustment mechanisms between the physical processes (water column stability, diapycnal mixing, advection) and the planktonic community (abundance and structure). Additionally we will develop a physical-biological model that allows us to understand and diagnose the nature of such coupling. In this way the results of this project could contribute to the identification of mesoscale structures not previously described and to a better understanding of the adjustment between the planktonic community and the physical environment in the marine antarctic system at the mesoscale range

BENTART-03 Cruise (29HE20030125) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, Integrated study of benthic biodiversity Bellinghausen Sea and Antarctic Peninsula (West Antarctica).1)Taxonomic determination of all the collected species belonging to the macrobenthos and the infaunal meiobenthos, with special attention to the peracarid crustaceans and the demersal ichthyofauna.2) Integrated ecological study of the communities of the three main components of the benthic domain: Infauna, epibenthos and suprabenths, through the analysis of abundance and biomass and of the oceanographic and sedimentological factors.3) Biogeographic studies, analysis of geographical and bathymetric distributions of the species and comparing them with other zones 4) Study of the biology of Antartic annelids polychaetes. 4) knowledge of the influence of the use of scientific samplers, especially the Agassiz drag dredge model, on organisms and the Antarctic bentonic system.5) Development of models on the feeding of demersal fish species, for the estimation of the flow of matter and energy that passes through this zoological group.6) Use of audiovisual media for the obtaining of photographic material and aerial and submarine video for scientific and informative purposes

OCEANSAC-2 Cruise (29HE20030315) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, Taking measurements of oceanographic parameters that contribute to the calibration of ocean observation satellites

FICARAM-VI Cruise (29HE20030408) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, Annual Progress Monitoring and quantification of the uptake of CO2 in the Atlantic . 1) Assess the variability of air-sea carbon flows.2) Determine the anthropogenic carbon content in the Atlantic Ocean: its spatial and interannual variation. Partial pressure (or fugacity) of carbon dioxide, dissolved inorganic carbon, pH, alkalinity, temperature, salinity and other variables collected from discrete sample and profile observations using CTD, Spectrophotometer for pH measurement and other instruments from the HESPERIDES in the North Atlantic Ocean from 2003-04-08 to 2003-04-24

COCA-2 Cruise (29HE20030520) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, Carbon flux at the Canary Atlantic Area: coupling between coastal export and oceanic demand. (COCA). Its objective is to determine the organic carbon balance of the planktonic community of the Canary Region, and the causes of its variation between the coastal zone of North-West Africa, highly productive, and the zone of low biological production of the Subtropical Gyre, as well as the exchanges of organic carbon between these two systems.Four experiments were conducted along a range from highly oligotrophic to productive environments

RG1 Cruise (29HE20030619) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, The purpose of the Special Action is to identify and assess the geo-environmental risks in the sinking area of ​​the Prestige vessel, through the integrated study of morphology, stratigraphy and sedimentary facies, bottom types, tectonic structures, fluid migration, seismicity and physical properties. geochemical and geotechnical features that characterize the sediment of the bottom and sub-seabed; It also has the purpose of determining the possible contamination by the fuel of the sea bottom and sub-fund and the geochemical processes acting in said area in order to assess the environmental impact. Before the activity that is going to be carried out on the wrecks, a study like the present one is fundamental, which will allow to know the characteristics of the seabed that this activity has to support and the possible impact that can be exerted on the environment and the interaction resulting between the marine environment and the activity carried out. The institutions participating in the study are: Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Marine Technology Unit (UTM-CSIC), University of Vigo, University of Cádiz, Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, University of Barcelona, ​​Institute of Sciences of the Earth Jaime Almera (ICTJA-CSIC) and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. The results of this study will be transferable in the short term to the sectors of Government, Industry, Civil Defense and Insurance Companies, to organize what are called prevention and preparation activities, and will help to establish the technical conditions to increase the safety of persons and civil works that may be affected by the Prestige ship spill. The work methodology consisted in the study of bathymetric data obtained with the multibeam probe system EM-12, profiles of high seismic (air cannons) and very high (TOPAS) resolution, and sediment cores of up to 4 m length obtained in three campaigns carried out aboard the ship Hespérides. Various analyzes have been carried out on the sediment samples and include the following types: granulometric analysis, analysis of sand fraction components, determination of carbonate content, X-ray analysis, analysis of physical properties (P waves, magnetic susceptibility, natural radioactivity). ), optical petrographic study -SEM, TEM, DRX-, elemental analysis, organic constituents and radiometric dates. Likewise, seismic networks were installed on land and sea. In the land campaigns (March to October) a terrestrial earthquake intervention network has been deployed in the NW Peninsular, in the area between Ferrol and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. A total of 12 portable stations have been set up to supplement the registration stations with respect to the existing ones permanently, belonging to the national network operated by the National Geographic Institute. On the other hand, to control the local seismic activity around the Prestige, a network of 10 ocean-floor seismometers (OBS) was installed around the wrecks, which remained anchored for almost a month

RG2 Cruise (29HE20030822) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, The purpose of the Special Action is to identify and assess the geo-environmental risks in the sinking area of ​​the Prestige vessel, through the integrated study of morphology, stratigraphy and sedimentary facies, bottom types, tectonic structures, fluid migration, seismicity and physical properties. geochemical and geotechnical features that characterize the sediment of the bottom and sub-seabed; It also has the purpose of determining the possible contamination by the fuel of the sea bottom and sub-fund and the geochemical processes acting in said area in order to assess the environmental impact. Before the activity that is going to be carried out on the wrecks, a study like the present one is fundamental, which will allow to know the characteristics of the seabed that this activity has to support and the possible impact that can be exerted on the environment and the interaction resulting between the marine environment and the activity carried out. The institutions participating in the study are: Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Marine Technology Unit (UTM-CSIC), University of Vigo, University of Cádiz, Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, University of Barcelona, ​​Institute of Sciences of the Earth Jaime Almera (ICTJA-CSIC) and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. The results of this study will be transferable in the short term to the sectors of Government, Industry, Civil Defense and Insurance Companies, to organize what are called prevention and preparation activities, and will help to establish the technical conditions to increase the safety of persons and civil works that may be affected by the Prestige ship spill. The work methodology consisted in the study of bathymetric data obtained with the multibeam probe system EM-12, profiles of high seismic (air cannons) and very high (TOPAS) resolution, and sediment cores of up to 4 m length obtained in three campaigns carried out aboard the ship Hespérides. Various analyzes have been carried out on the sediment samples and include the following types: granulometric analysis, analysis of sand fraction components, determination of carbonate content, X-ray analysis, analysis of physical properties (P waves, magnetic susceptibility, natural radioactivity). ), optical petrographic study -SEM, TEM, DRX-, elemental analysis, organic constituents and radiometric dates. Likewise, seismic networks were installed on land and sea. In the land campaigns (March to October) a terrestrial earthquake intervention network has been deployed in the NW Peninsular, in the area between Ferrol and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. A total of 12 portable stations have been set up to supplement the registration stations with respect to the existing ones permanently, belonging to the national network operated by the National Geographic Institute. On the other hand, to control the local seismic activity around the Prestige, a network of 10 ocean-floor seismometers (OBS) was installed around the wrecks, which remained anchored for almost a month

MARCONI-1 Cruise (29HE20030830) carried out on the Research Vessel Hespérides in 2003, Geophysical campaign, the objective is to know the structure, physical properties, lithospheric characteristics of the Cantabrian margin. Seismic reflaction and refraction techniques will be used with airguns and OBS´s( deployed on land and in the ocean) , magnetism and gravimetry will be measured