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Instrument Platform Details
NE Regional Circulation Mooring
This is the first of 4 circulation moorings, which together will help scientists measure currents within the axial rift valley of Endeavour Ridge at the regional scale, and to gauge the effect of hydrothermal venting on those regional currents.
The mooring is composed of 3 different types of instruments affixed at varying depths along a cable extending from the seafloor upward 267m. Together, these instruments measure deep-sea current velocity in 3-dimensions as well as the physical properties (temperature and salinity) of the water. The top of the mooring line (267m from the seafloor and 1890m below the ocean surface) is lifted by a large buoy, keeping the line vertical at all times.
Instruments on this platform
The upper-most instrument, positioned at 1904m, is an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP can estimate currents up to 800m above the sea floor. Below this, four instrument pairs are positioned at 1954m, 2029m, 2104m, and 2149m in depth down the mooring line. Each pair includes a Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensor and an Acoustic Current Meter (ACM). The RCM is anchored to the sea floor by a 650kg weight at 2154m in depth.
Instrument List
- Mooring top, 251.2 metres above bottom (mab): RDI Workhorse Long Ranger ADCP
- Top CTD-Current Meter Pair (201.2 mab):
- Second CTD-Current Meter Pair (125.5 mab):
- Third CTD-Current Meter Pair (51.2 mab):
- Bottom CTD-Current Meter Pair (4.2 mab):
Instruments positioned nearby
There are no satellite instruments attached to this mooring.
Location
Connected to Endeavour Ridge node on 19 Jun 2012 from the CCGS Tully.
- Depth: 2158.0m
- Lat: 47°58.4223'N
- Lon: 129°04.9388'W
Overview map showing mooring locations at Endeavour Ridge. (Click to enlarge.)
Photos
Click the images to see enlarged pictures with full captions.
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Various components and their positions on the Regional Circulation Mooring.  Schematic drawing of the NE RCM  Connection panel and anchor fastener at base. |
Installed Platforms
Barkley Canyon/Slope
Barkley Benthic Pod 2Barkley Benthic Pod 3
Barkley Benthic Pod 4
Barkley Canyon Axis (Pod 1)
Barkley Hydrates
Barkley Upper Slope
POGO Vertical Profiler System
Wally I
Endeavour
Main Endeavour Vent FieldNE Regional Circulation Mooring
NW Regional Circulation Mooring
North RCM Platform
Tempo-Mini
Folger Passage
Folger DeepFolger Pinnacle
ODP 889
ODP 889 Instrument PlatformODP 889 Seismometer Auxiliary Platform
ODP 1027
ODP 1027 Instrument PlatformODP 1027 Seismometer Auxiliary Platform
Recovered
Not currently installed.
Wally II
