September 1, 2025
A virtual research cruise to characterise the North Sea water system
In this assignment you will learn to set up your own virtual research cruise, during which you will ‘measure’ biophysical oceanographic properties and analyse them. The ocean is not an easy place to perform measurements. It covers a vast area, is not always easy to access (think about the deep ocean), and measuring comes with obstacles. We’re bound by shiptime (which is expensive), the types of instruments that are available (they may break), the weather (storms), sea-ice, seasickness… As research cruises are time consuming and costly, it is important to plan very well. One tool that can help scientists in planning their cruise is VirtualShip. In this assignment, you will use VirtualShip and design a measurement campaign in the North-West European Shelf region, aimed at measuring a cross-section from the open ocean, via the North Sea, towards the coast of Zeeland in the south-west of the Netherlands. Included is a rubric for grading the student reports.
Emma Daniels, Aimee Slangen, Jamie Atkins, Jana Cox