International Council for theExploration of the Sea

C.M. 1967/C:IO

Hydrography Committee

••

•

Report

of the ICES Meeting

for

Coordinating the Collection of Oceanographic Data

from Ocean veather Stations A, I, J, K and M

Charlottenlund, 18/5-19/5, 1967

Report

of the lCES Meeting

tor

Coordinating the Collection of Oceanographic Data

from Ocean,Weather Stations At l, J, K and M

Char1otten1und, 18/5-19/5, 1967

(With Appendices At Band C)

Participants

•Nether1ands:

·Norway:United Kingdom:ICES:

Observers

Mr. L. OttoMr. T. Kvinge·Lt.Cdr. ·D.P.D.Mr. J. Smed

Scott (ChQlirman)(Secretary)

U.S.A. : Commander E.A. DelaneyCommander R.E. Lenczyk

·eq.

An invitation was forwarded to France as one of the participantsin the North Atlantic Weather Ships scheme, but unfortunately norepresentative attended.

The General Secretary welcomed the members of the Working Groupand the U.S. representatives os observers. The Chairman spokebrieflyon the history ot the collection of data from ocean weatherships and the formation of this Group; details are given in thebackground document paper prepared by the Service Hydrographique.as Appendix A.

Each country was asked to detail the observations at presentcarried out onboard their ships, and these have"been listed inAppendix B. The details given for the French Ocean Weather Shipshave been taken tram ~h~ best ~nformation available to the Group.

The Group considered that oceanographic observations in theWeather Ships can be divided into two categories 1) continuouslongtime series and 2) special projects, and that invariably thecontinuous series should take priority. Observations in the 1stcategory should not require the continuous presence of scientists

. except for initialt~ainingpurposes.

It is decided that an attempt should be made to list the minimumobservations needed to ensure continuity on change cf nationalityof ships occupying stations. This minimum programme should not excludethe making oi additional observations where this is possible

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I. On Station

Physical Oceanography

l~ Nansen castso To the bottom once per voyage and to depthsto be agreed tor each station, once per weeko

These depths should basically contorm to the IAPO standarddepths but with' additional bottles placed where consideredadvantageous, depending on the water structure of the particularstation. Proposals tor these observing depths would be preparedby Norway tor stations A end M9 by UoK. tor land J, and Francewould be asked to prepare a Boheme for station K.'

Temperature and salinity should be observed at all stations.Oxygen determinationq,if considered teasible, need only be doneon the deep casts o

lt was pointedout in discussion that it is preferable foroxygen titration to be carried out onboard. But if this isnotfeasible it should be carried out ashore but within one week ofthe sampIes being collectedo

The U.K. representative mentioned that they considered itvaluable. to put a 275 m BT on the shallow cast. This has twoadvantages: 1) to calibrate the BT, 2) to provide a relativeprofile of the upper layers for fitting to the more accuratethermometer temperatureso

In the deep cast the deepest bottle should be as close to thebottom as practicable.

The group noted the excellent series of observations that hadbeen carried out continuously for a number of years at stationM and strongly recommends that it should be continued as far aspossible.

2. Bathythermograph observations twice a day to 275 mohours are 1000 and 2200 GMT.

Suggested

Hourly as part of the meteorological

·e4.

Surface temperatureoobservations.

Surface salinity. Once a dayo Suggested hour 1000 GMT.

5. Surface currents. Methods cf observing surface currents wereconsidered, but it was thought that such measurements were onlyfeasible where adequate navigational facilities exist, and theyshould be a matter of special investigation.

6. Wave measurements. The Group recommended that if, as appearslikely from recent correspondence between lOC, IMCO, SCOR, lAPOand NIO (UK) , a requirement arises for an increase in the volumeof instrumental wave recordings in the North Atlantic for researchinto ship structures, for ship routing or other purposes, facilitiesshould be made available on Ocean Weather Ships for the fittingof wave recorders.

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7. Bathymetry. To assist with accurate navigation, it is furtherrecommended that all 9cean Weather Ships be fitted with DeepEcho Sounders and that large scale plots be prepared of thebathymetry of each 200 mile square station grid, in conjunctionwith national hydrographic offices; arrangements should bemade for international exchange of this information.

!n~e~c~1~b~a~i~n_a~d_a2c~r~cl. lt was generally realized that dueto the tight schedules of the Weather Ships only laboratory inter­calibration of instruments could be made; this was considered tobe adequate.

lt is recommended that all thermometers used in the OceanWeather·Ships be calibrated annually; for the purpose of inter­calibration between countries it was considered that comparisonof deep·temperature values would be sufficient.

For salinity it was agreed that a trial should be carried outfor aperiod of one year during which period a number of duplicatesampIes from'station Alfa be exchanged for analysis by the othercountries concerned.

Thermometers should always be read to O.OloC, and salinitiesrecörded to O.OOl~. The estimated accuracy of temperature,salinity and finally accepted depth of each cast should also bereported.

lt was agreed that no special intercalibration of methods ofoxygen analysis is feasible at the present time, but that bothsampling and anlysis should be carried out to the latest agreedinternational standards.

It was considered preferable that the same method of analysisshould be used by all countries; the method to be used should beagreed by correspondence. (Cf. "Report on the intercalibrationmeasürements in Copenhagen, 9-13 June 1965, organized by lCES" ­Unesco technical papers in marine science, no. 3; and D. Nehring:"The results of the oxygen intercalibration measurements inLeningrad, May 1966." - lCES C.M. 1966/N:15)~

To improve the continuity of data and avoid spatial variation,it is recommended that observations are made as near as possibleto the centre of the station grid.

Biology.

, The U.K~ ~uggested that it was not easy to obtain reliable~~~l~gi~a~__observa~ions using non~scientific personneI, exceptp~ss~bly ~r~m_usinga plankton sampIer on passage. A suggestionwas ..made that_a scientific team be formed for this,purpose withan initi~l program for the period of one year and that a skilledtechnician plus one assistant (student trainee) would be requiredon each.Noyage with a small space onboard as laboratory. The U.K.is prepared to work out such a scheme and will also have to con­sider such matters as standardization of gearo

.' "

4

, ' '

The Group noted the U.K. offer and dec~ded that th~s was a matterthat they were not competent to discuss further, and recommended thatit be discussed by correspondence between F~5heries Laboratory"Lowes­toft; Institute of Sea Research, den Helder; Institute of MarineResearch of the Fisheries D~rectorate, Bergen and the appropriateFrench laboratory.

It is considered that a sCheme of this kind would be a spec~alproject of limited duration and if continuous biologieal observationsare required, the types of observations will have to be with~n thescope of non-scientific personnel trained for the purpose.

3. Bathythermograph dip to 275 m every 6 hours;

11. On Passage

It is recommended that the following observations be made.

1. Surface temperature hourly as part of the meteorological observa­t~ons, or surface thermograph (by request);

• 2 • Surface salinity every 6 hours,

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4. Wave record~ng measurements, if an instrument is fitted andobservations are requested;

5. Towing of Ha~dy plankton sampler when requested;. ,

6. Bathymetry.' Tracks should be varied within reasonable limitsto develop a wide' band of bathymetry between the stat~ons andthe various 9ase ports.

Availability and dissemination of data.

It is recommended that each year leES publish a short report listingthe ships which have occupied each of the stations during the previous yearand the periods on station of each ship. This report should also containdetails of all types of data collected on station and on passage, bothcontinuous series and special projects, together with the nam$ot sponsoringagencies and laboratories trom whom the data may be obtained.

The tirst such volume should be tor the year 1967, but a retrospectivevolume should also be prepared tor the years up to and 1ncluding 1966 forvoyages on which oceanographic observations were made, as faras this ispracticable.

The suggestion by,the U.S. observers that a similar volume be preparedby the U.S. tor the stationsot the Northwest Atlantic was welcomed.,

When oceanographic observations are 'made from the North Sea weathership these ?ould with advantage be covered by the above publication.

It was recommended that all data collected onboard the Ocean WeatherShips, whether as a routine or as part ot a special project, should bemade available tor research in general. Data should be exchanged in accord-ance with the loe manual on data exchange. '

It is recommendedthat messages of BT and other observations, asrequired by synopticraporting und fore casting organizations be trans~ttedby radio when requested.

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Report of leES Meetingon Ooean Weather Stations g

18-19/59 1967

Appendix A

~ackg:ound Documents

•

leES Meeting

for

Coordinating the Collecticn of Oceanographic Data

fram Ocean Weather Stations A. 1 9 J. K~ and M

lCES Recommendation

(C.R~so 1966/2:8)

lt was decided that

a) the Council convene~ on national expense, a meeting ofrepresentatives from France~ United Kingdom. Nether1ands,and Norway, who are responsible within their own countriesfor oceanographic observations from Ocean Weather Ships.to co~ordinate the collection of oceanographic data fromOcean Weather Stations Ag I. J~ K. and M;

b) the Group be asked to conduct the continued work bycorrespondence after an initial meeting;

c) the Group should work closely with the Working Group onVariability in the Physical Marine Environment takingtheir requirements into account when appropriate;

d) the Service Hydrographique be made responsible for theco-ordination.

·e

North Atlantio Weather Stations

° °0

M•

A• ~..•

60° -r 60°

c J•

DK•

40" 40°

E•

tl

Positions aB per May 1967

Ag 62°00'N 33°00'WB: 56°S0'N 51°00'WC: 52°45'N 35°30'WD: 44°00'N 41°00'WE: 35°00'N 4S000'WI: 59°00'N 19°00'WJ: 52°30'N 20 0 00'WK: 45°00'N lS000'WM: 66°00'N 2°00'E

•

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lCES Meeting

for

Coordinatins the Collection of Oceanographic Data

from Ocean Weather Stations A, I, J, K and M

Charlottenlund, 18/5-19/5, 1967

Some Notes on the Coordination up to this Time

At the lCES meeting in 1946 the Sub-Committee for Consideration ofCombined Hydrographical-Biological Investigations stressed the desirabilityof having hydrographical and biological observations carried out from theWeather Ships of the North Atlantic. A recommendation to that effect'wascarried by the Hydrographical Committee and adopted by the Council:-

"lt is recommended:

a) that the Council request the nations concerned in the equipmentofthe14 MET ships taking part in the Provisional'Intornational Civil AviationOrganization (PlCAO) for,the protection of air navigation between NorthAmerica and Europe, to arrange for regular serial oceanographic and bio­logical observations to be made in the North Atlantic according to in-

,structions provided by the Council,

b) that the Council arrange for these instructions to be drawn upas soon as possible, at least within three months."

An application to PICAO from ICES met a positive reaction, in asmuch as the President of PICAO drew attention to the following paragraphin the general program of the operation of the Ocean Weather Stations:-

" The participating States shall use 'their best endeavours to faci­litate the inclusion, in the observational programme of the' ocean weatherstations, of such oceanographical and other scientific observations asmay be found desirable. "

At the same time however, the President of PICAO intimated thatthe International Association of Physical Oceanography (IAPO) might alsobe very much interested in such observations, for which reason he recom­mended to ICES and IAPO that they coordinated their views on the kindsof observations to be made and the methods and instructions for carryingthem out.

Occasioned by this IAPO in January 1947 informed ICES that

" Professo~ H.U. Sverdrup, the President of the International Asso­ciation, considers it of great importance to arrange for the taking ofbathythermograph observations from the weather ships, both on stationand en route. At the present time the United States is the only countrywhich can supply the instruments and which has adequate facilities forprocessing the resulting record-plates. He therefore suggests that a

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request be made to the U.S.Hydrographic Office asking that Office to ar­range with the Interim Counci1 of PICAO for the establishment of a programcf bathythermograph observations. "

Fina11y the letter stated that IAPO wou1d perhaps appoint a Committecon the matter and shou1d possib1y wish to make other suggestions at alnter time.

The Chairman of t~~7ftydrographica1Committee, Professor Martin Knudsen,supported the above view of Prof. Sverdrup, but proposed an additional hydro­graphica1 program according to which temperature and sa1inity shou1d be ob­served at all ~tations daily from surface to 50 m, weekly from surface tobottorJ.

A draft program in accordance with the above was circularized to themembers of thc Hydrographical Committee. At the same time a draft programfor bio1ogica1 work of the Stations was circularized to the members of thePlankton Committee by its Chairman, Dr. F.S. Russe11.

Of tbe replies received the British one was an outcome of an informalmeeting between representatives of various Eng1ish and Scottish institu­tions interested in the work. The general opinion of this meeting wasthat while both of the proposed programmes appeared desirable in principle

. there was, so far as the British ships were concerned, no prospect ofputting them into ~peration in the near future. Furthermore, it now ap­peared tbat the U.S.A. were not anxious to adopt any elaborate programmesand that the bathythermograph work cou1d not be undertaken at present.In view of these circumstances efforts would be made to start limited pro­grammes in the British weather ships. These programmes would be essenti­ally practical with simple methods avoiding the need for elaborate equip­ment. Later on, when more experience had been gained in operating ships,the matter could be raised again with a view to finding means for elaborat­ing the programme.

The program proposed by the Chairman of the Hydrographical Committee,and the replies and comments received, were transmitted to IAPO, with theadditional comment by the Chairman that he hoped the British program wou1d,as astart, be taken up by the other European weather ships, and thatlater on ways and means might be found for the carrying out of a moreelaborate program from,the weather ships.

Fina1ly, the original proposals from the Hydrographical and PlanktonCommittees, with the comments received, were transmitted to ICAO (former­1y PICAO). On the basis of these proposals, and those of IAPO, the ICAOSecretariat drafted the following separate section on oceanography forinclusion in the Operational Handbook for the Ocean Weather Stations:-

" 1. Introduction

The London Conference on Ocean Weatber Stations recommended thatStates take advantage of the opportunities provided by theseStations for making oceanographica1 observations and that aprogressive oceanographical programme be included in tbegeneral scheme of observations. The programme outlined inthe following paragraphs has been developed by the Inter­national Council for the Exploration of the Sea and theInternational Association for Geodetics and Geophysics.It is understood tbat the programme will be followed insofaras avai1ab1e personnel and equipment permit.

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2. Hydrographical Observations

2.1 Daily observations (at the same hour GMT each day)cf temperature and salinity at the depths 0, 10,25 and 50 metres.

2.2 Weekly observations (at the same day and hour GMT)of temperature and salinity at the depths 0, 10,25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800,1,000, 1,200, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 metres as weIlas near the bottom.

2.3 An accuracy of O.OloC for temperature and 0.02 permille for salinity is desired.

2.4 Provision is made in the routine meteorologicalobservations for taking sea surface temperaturesto the nearest degree Fahrenheit at the inter­national synoptic hours, e.g., 0000,0300,0600 GMT etc •

3. Plankton Collections

The collections listed below should be made once weekly,on the same day each week, when ships are on Station:-

3.1 Preservation of one-litre sampIes of surface water withneutral filtered formalin to provide material for thestudy of nanoplankton, especially coccolithophores.

3.2 Vertical hauls with a 50 cm., fine-silk net from 50 m.,the net to be fished with a counterweight to supplycomparative and quantitative information on the largerdiatom species throughout the season.

3.3 Hauls with alm., stramin net streamed from the shipsfor 2 or 3 hours (or as long as possible) during thehours of darkness to give samples of the larger planktonorganisms to assist in studies of life histories anddevelopment and other seasonal changes.

3.4 A continuous Plankton Recorder to be towed on the runsto and from stations, to give one series every threeweeks. (A later development suggested for furtherstudy is the taking of vertical hauls with the N.70Hensen or International Net from great depths and atpredetermined levels.)

3.5 As regards the collections of diatoms and largerplankton animals, it will be sufficient at the startif these are made and stored for future investigationwhen the necessary workers are available. "

At the meeting in October 1947 of the ICES Hydrographical CommitteeProfessor Mosby reported on the activity of IAPO with regard to oceano­graphical observations from the Atlantic weather ships. IAFO had nowappointed a Committee (Chairman Dr. R.H. Fleming) to consider the matter.

A discussion took place with regard to the desirability of proposingadefinite program for the weather ships and with regard to the questionof printing and working up of the data. The discussion concluded in thefollowing ~tatement:-

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" It was considered deoirable that all countr1es operating WeatherShips should undertake oceanographical observations from them as soonaß possiblp.. Until a common program had been agreed'upon, the individualnations should work to the best programmes possible to themselves. Thequcstion of: working to a COlT.r:on prograr:me could best be left for decisionby the relevunt cor:mittee cf thc International Association of Oceanography("Flaming Gort.mittee l1

) at its meeting due to take place in Oslo in August1948.Atth.:'l.t meetingitwas hoped that fu1l consideration cou1d be givento both t.he working-up und the pub1ica.tion of the data."

Thc chairman of thc leES Plankton and Hydrographical Committees at­teuded thc meeting of the IAPO Weather Ships' Committee and reported tothe lCES meeting in October 1948 (Cf. Rapp. et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions,101. 124, pp. 21-22). The sub-sequent discussion by the HydrographicalGOIT.o:i.·;;'L:;;e resulted in these recommendations:-

n 1. The Council expresses its keen interest in the development of regularcceanographica1 observations from thc Atlantic Weather Ships, especia1lyfrom those situated ueur thc European fiehing waters, i.e., stationsI, J, K, Land M. If it proves impossible to agree on 0. common programmefor all the Atlantic Weather Ships, this organization will we1come 0. pro­gramme for the above-mentioned stations only.

2. Awaiting common arrangements for the publication of hydrographicalobservations from the At1antic Weather Ships to be drawn up by the Inter­national Asssociation of Physical Oceanography, it is recommended thatobservations originating from countries adhering to the Council maYt onrequest, be printed in the Bulletin Hydrographique until otherwise decided."

In accordance with the 1atter recommendation physical-oceanographicdata col1ected from weather ships operated by ICES countries have, on re­quest, been pub1ished in the series Bulletin Hydrographique or ICES Oceano­graphie Data Lists.

With regard to 0. co-ordinated program for oceanographic observationsfrom the weather ships lCES in the fol1owin~ years left its interests to thecare of the 1APO Committee ort which several lCES experts served. A de­scription of the oceanographic work carried out from the weather ships isgiven by J .R. Lumby and O.H. Srolen in their "Report on oceanographicalwork from Ocean Weather Ships" (IAFO, Publication Scientifique No. 16),published in 1957. Reference is also made to the reports of the IAPOCommittee published in the Proces-Verbaux (Vol. 4 and following) ofthe IAPO General Assemb1ies.

Later on the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) cameinto the picture. The report on the 2nd meeting (Feb.-March 1966) ofits Working Group on Ocean Data Stations states:

11 Concerning internationally-shared ocean data stations, it wasrecommended that each such station when established should be a110catedto one particular nation or regional organization, who would then beresponsible for coordinating the collection of oceanographic data atthat station. In that way one wou1d insure continuity of the series andthe standardization of data collected. It was suggested that lCES mightbe the appropriate body to take the responsibility for the oceanographicactivities in its area of the 5 internationally-shared ocean weatherstations, At I, J, K and M."

At its meeting in October 1966 the lCES Hydrographical Committeeappointed an ~ hoc Working Group on Ocean Data Stations to discuss,i.a. t the above proposal. The relevant part of the Working Group'sreport runs as fo1lows:-

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission haverequirements for oceanographic data collection(Report of the 2nd Session of the I.D.C. Appen­Meeting of the Working Group on Fixed Oceano-

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" The group agreed with the findings of the LO.C. Working Group thatco-ordination of the oceanographic work being carried out from Ocean WeatherShips is highly desirable, particularly at the five internationally sharedstations in the North Atlantic, to ensure continuity of observations.

As these five stations all lie within the ICES area and as the Councilhar recently formed a Working Group on Variability of the Ocean which,presumably, willhave considerable use for these data, it was consideredthat the Service Hydrographique is the appropriate body to take responsibilityfor such coordination. Consequently, it is recommended that the Councilconvene a group consisting of representatives from France, Great Britain,Netherlands and Norway who are responsible within their own countries foroceanographic observations from Ocean Weather Ships, to coordinate the col­lection of oceanographic data from Ocean Weather Stations, A, +, J, K and M;it was eonsidered that their work ean largely be eonducted by eorrespondenceafter an initial meeting. The group should work elosely with the ICESWorking Group on Variability of the Ocean, taking their requirements intoaccount, as appropriate.

lt was noted that thepublished proposed minimumfrom Ocean Weather Ships.dix V -Report of the Firstgraphie Stations)."

In accordance with these observations of the ad hoc Group, the Hydro­graphieal Committee feIt that co-ordination of the oceanographic workbeing carried out from Ocean Weather Ships is highly desirable, particular­ly at the five internationally shared stations in the North Atlantic, toensure continuity of observations. As the said five stations all liewithin the ICES area the Hydrographical Committee feIt that the ServiceHydrographique is theappropriate body to take responsibility for such co­ordination.

Referring to the above the Hydrographical Committee passed the recom­mendation which is the formal background for this meeting.

Jens Smed

•

lCES Meeting

for

Coordinating the Colleetion of Oeeanographie Data

from Oeean Weather Stations A, I, J, K, and M

Extraet from the Report of the 10C Working Group on Fixed Oeeano­

graphie Stations, Paris, 6-10 August 1962 (Doeument UNESCO/NS/180-Annex V)

3.(b) Working out m~n~mum requirements for oeeanographie observationsfrom ocean weather ships and other manned stations

The Working Group reeommends that the following minimum oeeanographierequirements be striven for at all existing manned ocean stations.

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Nearshore anehored stations

Light vesselsplatforms, ete.

Offshore mobile stations

Oeean Weather ships ete.

(Standard surfaee meteorologieal observations(Surfaee water temperatures(Surfaee eurrents(Salinities(Bathythermograph observations

(Hydrographie stations( (Standard lAFO depths)( 2 per week (separated by( 3 or 4 days, 1 to the bottom( and 1 to 1000 metres)(Bathythermograph to 250 metres daily(Surfaee eurrents(Transpareney (at least Secchi dise)

lt is also urged that better instrumentation be eneouraged i.e. Elee­tronie B/T to greater depths ete., and that research organizations be en­eouraged to make the fullest use possible of oeean weather ships for otherseientifie programmes.

The navigational fixing of oeean weather ships is eonsidered unsatis­faetory, particularly for the observation of surfaee eurrents and it isrecommended that the following methods be fully investigated:

(i) Marker buoys (These can also be used for instrumentation);(ii) V.L.F. long range electronic fixing systems (Omega etc.);

(iii) Large seale bathymetrie contouring of eaeh station area;(iv) Acoustie bottom beacons (currently under development).

There is an urgent'need by various organizations, for synoptie hydro­graphie information whieh can only be met if data is transmitted by radioon a daily schedule. All available hydrographie information should besent and the working group reeommends that distribution of such data toall interested parties be arranged.

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It is recommended that the loe Secretariat set up a channel of com­munication through which scientists and institutions wishing to make useof an international network of fixed stations may establish contact inan orderly fashion. This office could advise as to the reasonablenessand practicality of request for research co-operation (for example,collection of samples at a number of fixed stations). It also, inconjunction when necessary with other agencies such as WMO, could ar­range for the co-ordinated und effective use of available facilitieson appropriate conditions and terms.

Report'of -leES Meetingon Ooean Weather Stations,18-19/5, 1967

Appendix B

Details on Observations at present carried out by

North Atlantic Ocean Weather Ships

Norway

Oceanographic Program for the Norwegian Weatherships. Sts~M aDd A.

":Polarfront I" and "PolarfrPll~ 11"

Hydrographical observations. ~ansen bottles.castQ to the follow1ngdepths:

0.

Sunday: No stations.

1'1onday: 0, 10, 25, 5°, 75, 10O, 150 m.

Tuesday: 0, 50, 15°, 3°0, 600, 1000 m.

Wednesday:O, 5°, 15°, 3°0, 600, 1000 m.

Thursday: 0, 10, 25, 5°, 75, 100, 15°, 200, 3°°, 400, 500,600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 m, Bottom.

Friday: C, 50 t 15°, 3°0, 60O, 1000 m.

Saturday: 0, 50 t 150, 300, 600, 1000 m.

The sampling and measurements inc1ude temperature and salinity,

For the Thursday program oxygen content is determined also forall samples.

The oxygen titrations are done onboard. The salinitiea are donein shore laboratory.

Bathytermograph observations will be made down to ?75 m_

Bio1ogiea1 observations.

Plankton hau1 fram 600 m anee per week.

Surface hau1 by night anee per week.

Surfaee haul by day onee per week.

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Netherlands

Oceanographic observations presently being carried out by NetherlandsOcean Weather Ships.

O.W.S. "Cumulus" and O.w.S. rrCirrus rr

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A. Surface observations. Temperature measurements and salinitysampIes are taken by bucket.

On station: Temperature as part of the meteorologicalobservations. Salinity once a day at1200 GMT.

On passage: Every 3 hours a temperature observation ismade and a salinity sampIe is taken.

B. BT observations.

On station: At 1000 and 2200 GMT a 900 feet BT observationis made.

C. Serial observations.

On station: Only occasionally serial observations of,temperature and salinity are made. Thelast few years this has been only once ortwice a year. Generally during such avoyage several shallow and deep castsare made at standard depths till as closeto the bottom as is thought to be possible.

D. Wave recordings. One ship (IICumulus rr ) has a NIO wave recorder.The following measurements are made.

On station: Measurements are carried out twice a day.

'. Echo soundings.

On station:

On passage:

One ship (uCumulus") has a Kelvin-Hughes MS 26 K deepechosounder •. The· following measurements are made.

Twice a day a short registration is made.

From the edge of the Continental Shelf a con-tinuous run is made till the station andbackwards.

F. Plankton observations.

On passage: The. Hardy plankton.recorder.:is towed: duringoutward and backward voyage. This work isdone on behalf of the Oceanographic Laboratoryin Edinburgh. ~

G. Radioactivity.

On station: Twice each month a 60 litre surface sampIe istaken for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionand once each month a 2 litre surface sampIe ~s

taken for IAEA (Vienna).

These observations, unless otherwise stated, are made for the Royal Nether­lands Meteorological Institute (Oceanographic branch). Salinity determin­ations aredone with an Autolab Salinometer either on board or at home.

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United Kingdom

OWS "Weather Adviser"OWS "Weather Monitor"

OWS "Weather Reporter"OWS "Surveyor"

'.

On station:

i) Sea Surface Temperature observations hourly using an insulatedbucket.

ii) Bathythermograph to 275 metres, twice per day.

ii1) Nansen Gasts as on attached list week1y (all salinity analysisashore). .

iv) Total short wave radiation using a Moll-Gorczynski solarimeter.Total net flux of long wave radiation by ~eans Qf a horizon­tal plate suspended over the sea and sh1elded from the ship.(On both sides of the ship). .

v) Occasional swings for Magnetic Variation.

vi) "Weather Reporter" and "Weather Adviser" (temporarily). Waveobservations using an N.I.O. Wave Recorder tor 15 minutesevery 3 hours,

vii) Drift bottles dropped once a week.

On passage:

i) Continuous thermograph record from platinum resistance thermometerin condenser intake.

ii) Sea Surface Temperature observations hourly using an insulatedbucket.

iii) Bathythermograph to 135 metres, every 6 hours.

iv) Sa1inity observations every 4 hours from samples co11ected fromthe condenser intake (depth 12 to 15 ft),

v) Hardy Plankton Sampler tows, once per month per route.

vi) Drift bottles dropped at every even degree of longitude.

vii) Special navigational methods involving a careful study ofindividual ships are being used to measure accuratelyship's drift,

viii) Routine observations of surface currents.

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U.K. Ocean Weather Ships: Oceanographic observations

Observations are made weekly at the fo11owing depths:

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Station ALFA Station INDIA Etats. JULIETT and KILO

Depth of Suggested Depth of Suggested Depth of SuggestedObservat. Cast No. Observat. Cast No. Observat. Cast No •

. ..-

0( CondenseI 0

( CondenseI 0 (Condenser( Intake ( Intake (Intake

10 1 10 1· 10 1

.20 2 20 2 20 230 2 30 2 30 250 2 50 2 50 2

75 1 75 1 75 1100 1 100 1 100 1150 1 150 1 150 1200 1 200 1 200 1270 1 270 1 270 1

BT (275) 1 BT(275) 1 BT(275) 1

400 2 400 2 400 2500 2 500 2 500 2600 2 600 2 600 2

800 3 700 3 700 31000 3 800 3 800 31200 3 1000 3 1000 31500 3 1200 3 1200 32000 3 1500 3 1500 3

. 2500 3 1800 3 2000 3

or 50 mabove -"~ottom

r----~------

France (As at May, 1965)

O.W.S. "France I"

5

and O.W.S. "France 11"

I. Regular observations:

iii)

iv)

vi)

viii)

ix)

Measurement of temperaturesand collection of, samples ofsurface sea water: -

a) during the outward and return·~oyages at ,the synoptictimes,

b) on station daily at the same time as the;bathytherm~~graph observations.

Bathythermograph observations: 2 observations daily at12 hour, intervals, weather permitting, to 200 metres.

Buoyant "current cards" put into the sea, in batches of 10,~ r.

every ~OO nautical miles, during the outward and returnvoyages.

Oceanographic easts at standard depths down to 3000 metres,weather permitting, 1 or 2 per cruise. ~

~ .Swell observations on stati~n at the synopt1c hours."France 11" has an N.I.O. wave recor'der.

Collection of plankton samples with 60 and 200 nets ­2 per week on station.

Bacteriology ~ collection of samptes:

a) 'on station when oceanographic casts are taken, for depth,-

b) on station and during the outward and return voyages, atthe surface.

Collection of air and rain water samples for the measurementof radioactivity, daily. .

Calculation of the magnetie variation, at least twiee perstation.

Collection of samples for meteorite dust, once a week.

11. Observations on request:

i) Special observations at station "ALFA" for fishing forscorpionfish.

ii) Ornithological observations for the migration of sea birds.

iii) Observation of globicephala (pilot whales) for the study ofthe distribution and migration of marine cetaceans.

111. Observations as ~ applicable:' -. ~, ..,...

i) Detailed observations'of aurora borealis.

ii) Location and reporting of ice and icebergs.

- 6 ca

United States of America

U.So Frogram on North Atlantic Ocean Stations B, C, D, and E

On Station:

• I. III Ships. 0600,a. Bathythermograph (900 feet):Six-hourly at/1200, 1800,

2400 GMT. BT messages are sent to environmentalforecast centers.

bo Sea Surface Temperature: Haurly.

Co Bathymetry.

11. llternate Shipso

a. Daily Nansen cast to 1500 m and one cast to as near. bottom as passible each patrol. Temperature andsalinity analysis. Temperature data radioed toenvironmenta~ fore cast centerso Temperature andsalinity field data also are radioed to the CoastGuard Oceanographic Unit where quality controlprocedures are conductedo

~

' ...

Enroute Station:

I. All Ships.

a. (same aa Ioa. p above)

b. (same as lob., above)

c. (same as Ioc., above)

11. Stations C and D only: Alternate ships tow a continuousplankton recorder between the longitude of Cape Raee,Newfoundland and the station in cooperation withthe Scottish Marine Biological Association.

I

Special Projects:

I. Standard Seetions: Seleeted ships oceupy one or ~ore ofseven standard seetions lying aeross either or boththe North Atlantic Current and the Labrador CurrentoAll stations are to at least 1500 m or the bottom,whichever depth is lesso Station spacing varieaaccording to location fram 10 nom. to 60 nom.

11. The U.So Ocean Station ships conduct a numberof cooperativeprojects tor tederal agencies and private oceanographic1aboratorieso These include collection of large volumewater samples for radioactivity studies, use af variauswave height sensors,and recording of both ineomingand reflected solar radiation.

\

Report cf leES Meetingon Ocean Weather Statiensg18~19/5, 1967

Appendix C

Names and addresses cf reRresentatives

Netherland.e Lo OttoKonink1ijk Nederlands

InstituutDe Bilt g Netherlandso

Meteoro1~giseh~.' :~ : .

Norway

United Kingdom

United Stat~

Cando realo Thor KvingeGeofysisk lnstitutt, Avdo A.Allegto 70B~rgent Norway

LieutoCdro D.P.D a Seott ,R.N.Hydrographie DepartmentMinistry cf DefenceOld War OfficeWhitehallLondon S.W.l g England

Cdro EoA o De1aneyUoSo Coast Guard Head~ers

1300 E o Sto, NWWashington, DoCo 20591USA