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USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Field Activity Details for field activity 1976-017-FA

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Other ID: none

Status: Completed

Organization(s): USGS, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Funding Program(s):

Principal Investigator(s): Rafael W. Rodriguez

Affiliate Investigator(s):

Information Specialist(s):

Data Type(s): Sampling: Biology, Sampling: Chemistry, Sampling: Geology, Environmental Data: Turbidity, Location-Elevation: Navigation

Scientific Purpose/Goals: 1. Bottom sample transects on west half of northern shelf near Rio de la Plata river mouth. Conduct SCUBA observations off Rio de la Plata to see if hurricane-deposited surface mud layer remained. 2. SCUBA observation and sampling of southwest corner of Puerto Rico in sandwave area. Set stakes to determine rate of transport. 3. Preliminary bottom sampling and SCUBA observation near Escollo de Arenas, Isla Vieques to characterize large sand deposit, its setting and dynamics.

Vehicle(s):

Start Port/Location:

End Port/Location:

Start Date: 1976-06-02

End Date: 1976-07-29

Equipment Used: SCUBA, Shipek grab, Van Veen grab sampler, Secchi disk, Forel bottles, Raytheon radar

Information to be Derived: Grain size analysis; Sea floor mapping;

Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: 1. Western half of north shelf, June 2-18 and July 19-21, 1976: Bottom samples: 171; Surface mud layer gone from mouth of Rio de la Plata. Also good reconnaissance sample coverage of major offshore sand deposit, Isabella area. 2. Southwest corner sandwave area, June 27 - July 9, 1976: SCUBA observations of crestless sand waves; stakes set and surveyed in to measure sediment transport. 3. Escollo de Arenas, Isla Vieques, July 28-29, 1976: Reconnaissance sampling and observation of extremely dynamic sand transport of large offshore sand body and environs.

Staff: Rafael W. Rodriguez, Nelson Espinell, Luis O. Fernandez, Jose R. Muniz, James V. A. Trumbull

Affiliate Staff:
David Bush

Notes: Original Center People field contained: Rafael W. Rodriguez - Ch. Sci.; David Bush, Nelson Espinell, Luis O. Fernandez, Jose R. Muniz, James V. A. Trumbull.
Project = Puerto Rico Marine Geology Co-op, Puerto Rico Marine Geology Co-op

Location:

Rio de la Plata river mouth, western half of north Puerto Rico shelf, southwestern Puerto Rico, Escolla de Arenas, Isla Vieques, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea, United States, North America, North Atlantic;

Boundaries
North: 18.5 South: 17.95 West: -67.4 East: -65.4

Platform(s):

photo of Jean A
Jean A

Mckee
photo of Zodiac
Zodiac

Publications

Grove, K.A., and Trumbull, James V. A., 1978, Surficial geologic maps and data on three potential offshore sand sources on the insular shelf of Puerto Rico: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1017, 1 sheet, URL: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/mf1017.

Portals/Viewers

Documents associated with this activity

Title Survey Equipment Description
Cruise report (document not focused on specific equipment) Chief Scientist's cruise report describing ship movement, personnel, and equipment and data acquisition notes.

Data Acquired

Survey EquipmentSurvey InfoData Type(s)Data Collected
SCUBA --- Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Shipek grab --- Geology
Van Veen grab sampler --- Geology
Secchi disk --- Turbidity
Forel bottles --- Turbidity
Raytheon radar --- Navigation

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