RRS James Cook Cruise 85, 14 - 29 Apr 2013. Porcupine Abyssal Plain: sustained ocean observation

The oceanic water column and the underlying seabed change on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. The objective of the PAP observatory is to provide high temporal resolution (hours) of an increasing number of variables which are relevant from the perspective of the biology, physics and chemistry over a relatively small spatial scale (30km). The site has been under examination for over 20 years and during that time, substantial changes have been observed in the benthic environment. The intention is to sustain and enhance these observations in order that a deeper understanding is obtained into the processes which operate; in particular the responses to the changes which are currently taking place in the global environment. The objective of the cruise was primarily to service the infrastructure required for continuous sustained observation, and to put these into context using observations from the ship which as yet cannot be carried out autonomously. In addition substantial sampling of the seabed was also a major objective.