Northeast Integrated Pelagic Survey (GU1305, EK60). During the survey we will quantify the spatial distribution of the following parameters: water currents, water properties, phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton, pelagic fish and invertebrates, sea turtles, marine mammals, and sea birds. We will use traditional and novel techniques and instruments. In essence, the approaches of the Ecosystem Monitoring survey and the NEFSC Herring Acoustic survey are combined here and augmented to include a broad array of measurements of the pelagic ecosystem. Operational objectives are to: (1) collect underway data using TSG, SCS, and ADCP; (2) complete CTD and bongo operations at stations throughout area, (3) calibrate the EK60 Scientific Sounder, (4) conduct acoustic surveys using the EK60, (5) collect biological data to verify species-specific acoustic measurements using midwater trawls, (6) collect marine mammal and seabird observations.

• Conduct dual team visual line-transect surveys to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of cetaceans in U.S. Atlantic waters. • Conduct passive acoustic surveys simultaneous with visual surveys to provide supplemental information on cetacean abundance and spatial distribution. • Collect tissue samples (biopsies) of select cetaceans from the bow of Gordon Gunter and in select cases from R2 (scientific small boat). • Collect photographs and video of marine mammals, seabirds and turtles. • Collect visual survey data on distribution and abundance of sea turtles, seabirds, and other marine life. • Periodic collection oceanographic and environmental data. This includes a regular a CTD cast to 500m every morning prior to deployment of the acoustic array. The scientific echosounders (ER80) and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) will also run at night to quantify acoustic backscatter due to small fish and zooplankton but will generally remain secured during mammal surveys.

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C. Operating Area (include optional map/figure showing op area) Western Atlantic along the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coast, cross-shelf, through Gulf Stream, out to blue water. Operations will be conducted in and around York Bight, Long Island Sound and Cape Cod. Gulf Stream eddies will be sampled along the way. Plan includes sampling transient features present in the region at the time of the cruise. Cruise begins in Norfolk, VA and will end in Norfolk, VA, US. Tentative cruise track (Fig. 1) is shown below along with daily locations in Table 1. Cruise track will be adjusted to maximize characterization of processes and features present during time of cruise. In addition, one of the issues with our work is that we need cloud free skies to maximize our work. We will be working with the crew to make adjustments to the cruise track daily. D1. VIIRS Cal/Val Objectives Observe and measure inherent and apparent optical properties of water masses for three primary objectives: 1) JPSS VIIRS ocean color satellite validation; 2) Inter-calibration and intercomparison of validation techniques and measurements; and 3) optical characterization of ocean variability (i.e. coastal, near-shore, cross-shelf, eddies, fronts, filaments, blue water).

Operational objectives are to: (1) collect underway data using TSG, SCS, and ADCP; (2) complete CTD and bongo operations at stations throughout area; (3) collect marine mammal and seabird observations; (4) collect data and imagery of phytoplankton and faciliates using an Imaging FlowCytobot unit and optical measurements of the sea surface water using bio-optical instruments, both of which will be plumbed into the Scientific Seawater System; (5) collect plankton samples with vertical plankton ring net tows to compare with bongo tows; (6) collect microzooplankton samples using 61 cm bongo (333 / 150 micron mesh nets) at Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) stations (A17-SNE, A18-SNE, A19-SNE, A20-SNE); and (7) collect radiometry measurements for satellite validation. The Ecosystem Monitoring surveys contribute to stock assessments, protected species assessments, ecosystem assessments, and climate assessments. As such, the surveys are multi-objective. Ichthyoplankton and hydrographic data are collected for stock assessments. A range of ecosystem observations are made, from nutrients and ocean acidification to marine mammals, and a number of the measurements are used in NEFSC ecosystem assessment products. The ocean acidification and hydrographic measurements are incorporated into the region’s climate assessments. This survey is multidisciplinary and as such will integrate all these operations. The cruise plan will evolve with input from scientists as well as the officers and crew of NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter. A post-cruise meeting will focus on lessons learned and improvements to make for subsequent surveys of this type.

AMAPPS-Cetacean and Turtle Abundance Spring Survey (GU1402, EK60). The AMAPPS survey primarily focuses on beaked whale species, with the following objectives: 1) Develop a better understanding of beaked whale habitat use and site fidelity for abundance and monitoring of critical areas, 2) Quantify efficacy of passive acoustic monitoring for detection and abundance of these species, through controlled methodological tests and in comparison to a bottom-mounted recorders (MARU), 3) Determine the distribution and relative abundance of plankton and prey species, 4) When possible, collect identification photographs and biopsy samples.

Ecosystem Monitoring. The Ecosystem Monitoring (aka Ecomon) survery uses bongo and CTD sampling to monitor and map the distribution of zooplankton, krill and smaller organisms) and the physical environment. The survey has been conducted four times per year (although fewer times in recent years) in each season on the continental shelf from Cape Hatteras, NC to the Canadian waters of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Acoustic data are occasionally collected. Marine mammal and bird observations have been collected in the past.

Singlebeam raw files

Mixing up the Tropical Pacific (FK150728, EK60). Cruise FK150728 of RV Falkor operated by Schmidt Ocean Institute, departing port Majuro, Marshall Islands on date 2015-07-28 and arriving port Honolulu, Hawaii on date 2015-08-19

Falkor Cruise FK180722 (EK60)