BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

Oceanographic data acquired during the ANTOM-1 Cruise (29SG20201216) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., The sampling cruise ANTOM-1 is the first of the two campaigns of the ANTOM project, which aims to understand the long-range transport and biogeochemistry of organic pollutants at global scale and how these reach the Atlantic and Southern Oceans, as well the pollutant interactions with marine microbiomes. The campaign consist in a latitudinal transect between Vigo (Spain) and Punta Arenas (Chile). During the campaign, samples of air, seawater, microbiomes, zooplankton and plastics are taken. In addition, a number of experiments are performed with the objective to assess the microbial degradation of pollutants, and the effects of organic pollutants and anthropogenic organic matter on marine microbiomes.

Oceanographic data acquired during the SAGA10W Cruise (29SG20210308) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., SAGA: The South Atlantic GAteway in the global conveyor belt. The general objective of the SAGA project is to quantify and monitor the returning limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in the South Atlantic Ocean , with special attention to the interior-ocean zonal flows linking the eastern and western South Atlantic basins. During the SAGA10W cruise, the installation of different equipment on the seabed is planned, that will make it possible to find out how the currents of the South Atlantic behave and how they are connected with the Southern Ocean. During the cruise it is planned to deploy a series of devices to measure different oceanographic variables at a depth between 2 and 4 kilometres deep in 7 locations located between 34ºS and 19ºS along the 10ºW meridian: 4 PIES (Pressure Inverted Echo Sounder) —which allow the reconstruction of the thermohaline structure of the water column— and 3 anchors that incorporate current meters —the currents— and CTDs —the temperature, salinity and conductivity of the water. The anchors will be in the water for two years, after which the data will be collected and analysed. The PIES, on the other hand, will remain on the seabed for four years, although at 16 and 32 months some units will be released and will be raised to the sea surface to transmit the collected data.

Oceanographic data acquired during the EXPORTS Cruise (29SG20210503) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., EXport Processes in the Ocean from Remote Sensing (EXPORTS) is a large-scale NASA-led field campaign that will provide critical information for quantifying the export and fate of upper ocean net primary production (NPP) using satellite observations and state of the art ocean technologies. The goal of EXPORTS is to understand how the organic carbon makes it to the twilight zone and deep ocean interior, and how lon it stays there, which is vital to understanding present and future ocean ecosystems and global climate.

Oceanographic data acquired during the BOCATS-2_LEG1 Cruise (29SG20210528) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., BOCATS-2, a continuation of the previous BOCATS project (2014-2017), will be a main contribution to the observation of the NA subpolar gyre. A particular focus will be given to the new challenge of assessing the variability of the deep circulation in the NA, improving the spatial-temporal resolution of deep currents and water mass characteristics by deploying a regional deep-ARGO array and, at a submilenary scale, using paleoceanographic data obtained in sedimentary records from key sites, such as the Bight and Charlie-Gibbs fracture zones. The high-quality observations foreseen in the SPNA will contribute to the early detection of the alteration of the carbon cycle allowing the precise estimation of the heat, CO2 and N2O storage rates and, ultimately, to find the connection between these changes and the variability of the AMOC at different time scales. The natural and anthropogenic fluxes of heat, CO2 and N2O will be evaluated, as well as the present and submillenary scale transport of sediments and biogenic elements, and the impact of acidification on these timescales by means of the analysis of CaCO3 and organic carbon fluxes to the sediment. Besides, the current ocean acidification rates will also be quantified by evaluating the present situation and establishing future projections. These new observation-based estimates will be a valuable result that will be used to validate the predictions from the models for the 2°C warming scenario. Finally, special attention will be paid to the rates of elevation of aragonite saturation horizons in deep layers, where the impact on the ecosystems sustained by calcareous organisms is potentially imminent.

Oceanographic data acquired during the BOCATS-2_LEG2 Cruise (29SG20210629) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., The BOCATS-2_LEG2 cruise is a part of the BOCATS project. During this cruise will be obtained a detailed mapping of the Bight fractures (Bight Fracture Zone - BFZ), the internal structure of the first meters of sedimentary fill and the most appropriate choice of sampling points. Also, another part will consist of obtaining samples of the surface sediments. Both operations will be performed at four different points along the fracture area. The fracture has a special relevance since it represents an important part of the transport of the Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW) through the ridge.

Oceanographic data acquired during the iMIRABILIS-2_LEG0 Cruise (29SG20210723) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., Leg 0 of cruise iMIRABILIS-2 will focus on the collection of multibeam bathymetry and geological and biological data on the north part of the Azores-Biscaya Rise (ABR). This area is part of a roughly linear north-east-south-west trending feature, with approximately 700 km long, rising up to 3,000 m above the surrounding seafloor (e.g. Whitmarsh et al., 1982). Very few studies have focused on the ABR and data on this geomorphological feature is still scarce notwithstanding its importance during the opening and evolution of the North Atlantic basin during the last 75 Myr, which was also influenced by the Azores hotspot. During the ROV dives it is expected to observe and collect submarine volcanic rocks in order to characterize the geological environment at this location and to study the mantle components along with the magmatic processes that sourced the volcanism and created this major geological structure. The bathymetric highs and seamounts occurring in the North Atlantic also constitute hotspots of biodiversity, hostingdeep water coral reefs and deep sea sponges forming complex habitats that are also considered to be vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). The collection of environmental baseline data on these areas is paramount not only to explore remote areas with scarce data but also for the development of a coherent multidisciplinary approach focused on the adoption of effective measures for protection and conservation of the marine environment.

Oceanographic data acquired during the iMIRABILIS-2_LEG1 Cruise (29SG20210731) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., iMIRABILIS-2 is an international multidisciplinary expedition with activities contributing to many tasks across iAtlantic’s workpackages. At sea activities will include the study of both the water column and the seafloor. iMIRABILIS-2 mobilises state-of-the-art seabed survey equipment including the Autonomous Underwater vehicle (AUV) Autosub6000 and the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Luso. This advanced technology allows iAtlantic to explore benthic ecosystems in great detail producing large high-resolution photographic results that will be processed automatically using new machine learning approaches. The results of these surveys will be used to produce high resolution habitat maps off Cabo Verde from which scarce information is currently available. Moreover, the ROV Luso will allow collection of selected specimens for taxonomic purposes and for dating. Furthermore, new technologies will be tested during the cruise including the eDNA ‘RoCSI’ sampler recently developed by researchers from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC, UK). Seabed lander equipment will also be deployed to obtain in situ information on environmental parameters and demersal deep-sea fish fauna. Ex situ experimental work will also take place on the ship, including short-term aquaria experiments with specimens collected with the ROV and incubations of sediment cores, collected by multicore.

Oceanographic data acquired during the MARIBNO Cruise (29SG20210914) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., The MARIBNO project is located in the NW zone of Iberia, which constitutes an ideal environment to raise the following main objectives: 1. Study of the cortical structure at the western end of the Cantabrian Mountains and the transition zone between the western and northern margins of Iberia. 2. Study of the tectonic control exerted by the previous structures during the two main alpine stages. 3. Mapping and characterization of cortical domains using a multidisciplinary approach. Definition and application of geophysical and geological criteria applicable to the zonation of cortical domains in other parts of the world with similar contexts.

Oceanographic data acquired during the ECOSUMA Cruise (29SG20211025) on board the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2021., The aim of the ECOSUMA project is to study one the main bottlenecks that prevent the integral culture of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris. For that purpose we undertake a multidisciplinary survey that will relate chemical and physical parameters with the abundance of paralarvae in different strata of the water column. We use a multinet gear and deploy rosettes and CTD along eight transects in the proximity of Spanish and norther Portuguese waters. We also measure turbidity in most tows undertaken.

ELGEOPOWER Cruise (29SG20220104) carried out on the Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa in 2022., ElGeoPower project is a marine geophsyical study of the Powell Basin area, Bransfield Starit, Scotia Plate and Deception Island. We want to get information from these geographical frame to get a deeper knowledge on the creation of oceanic crust from the very beginning of is onset until it is already formed. To do this we will carry out a marine geophysical cruise using surface magnetometry, marine magnetic deep-tow, swath bathymetry, gravity and refraction seismic.