In the early morning of June 9, R/V TKK set off to the northwestern Pacific for a major scientific expedition cruise for the process, mechanisms, and evolution of the biological pump carbon fixation in the Northwest Pacific by 2021 (NORC2022-306), or KK2202 cruise, which is supported by NSFC Shiptime Sharing Project.
A group photo of all cruise participants. Photo: Jiajun Huang
Thirty-six cruise participants from Xiamen University (XMU) and Nanjing University (NJU) aboard the ship planned to carry out a 50-day field campaign with interdisciplinary approaches in the Northwest Pacific, including sample collection, in-situ observation, and equipment deployment and recovery.
Despite the scorching sun and the torrential rain, marine technicians at Marine Operations (XMU) had been working over the Dragon Boat Festival to get all of the equipment, facilities, and scientific systems ready for the expedition.
Lab van loaded onto the deck. Photo: Ruotong Jiang
Marine engineers adjusting equipment on the main deck. Photo: Chengmiao Ye
During the KK2202 cruise, multiple over-the-side operations will be carried out on the vessel, including regular CTD casts, multi-net plankton sampling, ADCPs, in-situ LVPs, moving vessel profiling, and sediment sampling. In addition, TMC CTD casts will be conducted utilizing Trace Elements and Isotopes Sampling System (TEISS) onboard R/V TKK. To date, R/V TKK is the first and only research vessel in China to have been equipped with TEISS that complies with GEOTRACES criteria. Furthermore, it will be the inaugural attempt to collect ultra-clean seawater and sediment samples on the same expedition. The work can’t be done without earlier and cautious plans jointly made by the research team and marine engineers.
TMC CTD with GEOTRACES compatible water sampler (24*12 L). Photo: Liping Ye
A fire and abandon ship drill had been held within 24 hours of leaving the port while the ship was sailing to the first sampling station. Moreover, online ocean science lectures will be scheduled and given through WeChat channels during the cruise. Please stay tuned for more updates!
An emergency drill was conducted onboard.
