From 4 till 8 November 2024, five scientists of the MarSens team participated in a research campaign aboard the RV Simon Stevin, alongside the ICOS team from the Flanders Marine Institute, as part of the VLAIO-funded BERNARDO project. We operated an underway flow-through system that continuously measured optical properties, including hyperspectral attenuation, absorption, and backscattering, Chlorophyll-a and CDOM fluorescence, and particle size distribution, alongside above-water radiometry (DALEC, for ocean colour reflectance), and a system that measures carbonate chemistry parameters (pCO2 and Alkalinity).
This continuous underway datastream was matched with discrete samples collected with Niskin bottles at various stations along the ship trajectory covering Belgian, Dutch, French, and UK coastal waters. This comprehensive in situ dataset is key to the BERNARDO project.
The campaign began smoothly, but after 12 hours of cruising a generator issue forced the vessel back to Ostend for two days of repairs. Once resolved, the vessel followed an alternate route: first to the Scheldt Estuary, then to the Thames Estuary and Dover, and finally back to the Belgian North Sea.
Despite this setback, we are really happy with the results: the MarSens underway measurements system operated smoothly and we collected data at 30 discrete stations. We thank the crew of Simon Stevin for their good vibes, friendly support, and amazing food, including an incredible birthday cake for Clémence!
Text by Tim and Maurie.
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