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AMT30

21 February 2023 - 30 March 2023

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands - Southampton, UK

Cruise image

AMT30 departed from Port Stanley on 21st February 2023 aboard the RRS Discovery. The ship was home for over six weeks to crew and 26 scientists from PML, Scottish Association for Marine Science, National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Universities of Oxford, Exeter, Liverpool, East Anglia and Heriot Watt. We also welcome guests from University of Lisbon (Portugal), Michigan State University and NASA (USA), University of Pretoria (South Africa) and CICESE (Mexico).

The AMT missions always have a packed science agenda and this year was no exception. Sampling activities included:

  • Carbon chemistry

  • Microbial biodiversity

  • Nutrient distribution

  • Nitrogen fixation

  • Optical properties

  • Oxygen status

  • Gas exchange

  • Aerosol deposition

  • Zooplankton diversity

  • Particle export

NASA once again joined PML scientists to help ‘sea-truth’ their satellite sensors, with AMT providing a unique opportunity to validate and calibrate their optical equipment in the remote ocean, far from human interference.

This year also saw a return of the POGO Special Visiting Fellow for Shipboard Training from the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education in Ensenada (CICESE), Mexico. The selected Fellow, Yessica Pacheco, spent two weeks at NOC prior to the cruise to join in with preparation and planning. At sea she joined the AMT team in hydrological, bio-optical and ecological observations and after the cruise, and then another month at NOC learning to analyse and interpret the measurements she made.

Dr Andy Rees, Marine Biogeochemist at PML and lead scientist for AMT, commented on the research mission: “AMT is a fantastic opportunity to get marine scientists into the remote ocean gyres and it is one of very few opportunities to do so. AMT30 provides continuation of our measurements since 1995 so we are now getting towards a position where we are able to detect decadal scale changes in this vast ecosystem.

Our research activities are key to understanding how biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles function naturally and indicates how they might be influenced by climatic change and ecosystem variability. Whilst our scientific activities are hugely rewarding the most challenging aspect of such a long mission is being away from home and separation from family and friends”.

The AMT dataset, hosted by the British Oceanographic Data Centre, has had over 240,000 downloads and has generated over 380 scientific publications.

Founder of AMT, Prof. Jim Aiken who is an Emeritus Fellow at PML, commented: “As the research programme approaches its 30th year, I am extremely proud that this important dataset continues to grow and provide such vital information to marine scientists around the world, to help improve understanding of the Atlantic Ocean, it’s processes and how it is changing. The co-ordination teams and participants over the years have all contributed to making this valuable scientific programme the success it is and the dedication of the current team in keeping the programme running is most commendable. Long may AMT continue!”.

 


Download the cruise report

Click here to download the cruise report for AMT30 which gives an overview of the research activities, personnel and science reports.

Download the AMT30 cruise report 

 

 

Personnel

Andy Rees
Andy Rees 
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK
Glen Tarran
Glen Tarran
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK
Gavin Tilstone
Gavin Tilstone

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK

Sarah Breimann
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK
Ian Brown
Ian Brown

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
UK
Federico Ienna
Federico Ienna
University of Lisbon
Portugal

Roseanna Wright

BODC
UK

Mayibongwe Buthelezi 

University Pretoria
South Africa

Philipa Rickard 

Heriot Watt 
UK

Prima Anugerahanti

The University of Liverpool
UK   
Kirsten Fentzke
Kirsten Fentzke
Michigan State Univ
USA
Joachin Chaves
Joachin Chaves
NASA
USA
Harrison Smith 
Harrison Smith

NASA
USA

Mojtaba Masoudi

NOC
UK
JWilliams
Jack Williams

NOC
UK

Will Major

NOC
UK

Marika 
Takeuchi
NOC
UK
ESavineau
Eloise Savineau

NOC /Exeter
UK
Dan Mayor
Dan Mayor
University of Exeter
UK
Katherine Cook
Katherine Cook

University of Exeter
UK
David Wang
Tzu Hao (David) Wang

University of Oxford
UK

Yessica Contreras Pacheko
POGO
Mexico

Adam Francis
SAMS
UK

Rachel Shelley

UAE
UK
A Tracana
Andreia Tracana

University of Lisbon
Portugal
JGittings
John Gittings

University of Athens
Greece
   

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