Field Activity Details for field activity P395MB

AKA: none

Other ID: P-3-95-MB

Status: Completed

Organization(s):

Funding Program(s): Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MU182)

Principal Investigator(s): David Scholl

Affiliate Investigator(s): Deidre Sullivan (CSU, MLML)

Information Specialist(s):

Data Type(s): Seismics: Boomer, Seismics: Sub Bottom Profiler, Location-Elevation: Navigation, Sonar: Sidescan, Sampling: Biology, Sampling: Geology

Scientific Purpose/Goals: Seafloor mapping in the Soquel Canyon region to map the geometry and track of a stream channel(s) that should have crossed the shelf area and fed into the head of Soquel Canyon during times of glacially lowered sea level (last time about 10,000 years ago). Theoretically, a number of superimposed channels could exist, each cut during different glacial episodes. As an outreach program to Moss Landing Marine Lab and the California State University system, this will give Dave Scholl and Bob Garrisons Geological Oceanography class a hands-on lesson on modern data acquisition techniques in inshore environments and how to address real geologic problems. Deidre Sullivan will brief the class about her Soquel science program. Hopefully, the class work will contribute to the collection of data beneficial to her efforts. Deidre and Roberto Anima, who has been collecting and studying inshore data along the northern side of Monterey Bay, will participate to accurately inform the class about canyon and channel related science in Monterey Bay. The work is informally phased in with some of USGSs Monterey Sanctuary work, in particular that coordinated by Brian Edwards. Brian and Dennis Mann are interested in contributing to the overall effort and class teaching activities. It is doubted that the sidescan will help here, but the class should have an opportunity to also map sediment types (backscatter characteristrics, etc) shelfward of the head of Soquel Canyon. This sort of information is pretty helpful where habitat characterization is needed. When the grid survey work is completed, we will pull gear and return to sample surface sediment at interesting sidescan- or Uniboom-located sites.

Vehicle(s):

Start Port/Location:

End Port/Location:

Start Date: 1995-09-27

End Date: 1995-09-27

Equipment Used: uniboom, mudseis, YoNav, GPS, sidescansonar, boxcore, gravitycore, multicore

Information to be Derived:

Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: A grid will be established for the Point Sur to follow. Uniboom records will be used to identify channels and map their course. Gary Greene says channel fill exhibits acoustics characteristics (gas-charged seds) that will help map its buried course.

Staff: Brian Edwards, Dennis Mann, Gary Greene, Carolyn Degnan, Michael Boyle, Larry Kooker

Affiliate Staff:

Notes: Associated activities: M-1-93-MB J-1-94-MB J-2-95-MB J-6-95-MB M-2-95-MB P-1-95-MB P-3-95-MB R-1-95-MB M-1-96-MB J-1-97-MB J-3-97-MB A-4-98-MB J-3-98-MB J-4-98-MB MESSAGE 1 Dave, Larry, John (MARFAC): Just some information for you guys. Bob Garrison and I are team teaching a core class at Moss Landing in Geological Oceanography. Gary Greenes the guy who signed us up. An important part of the class work is a cruise on the Pt Sur, scheduled for either Sept 20th or the 27th. Although Ive talk this matter over with Dave and Larry (Larry was to brief John), I just wanted to explain in writing what we are attempting to accomplish. The class work on the Pt Sur will be informally phased in with some of USGSs Monterey Sanc work, in particular that coordinated by Brian Edwards. Basically, what we would like to have on the Sur is a uniboom seismic system, and Johns Yo-Nav navigation system, and Larrys mudseis recording system. If we can assemble this stuff, then the MLML class will get a great idea about modern data acquisition techniques in inshore environments, and how ones goes about addressing real geologic problems. We also want to do some sampling (multisampler, box corer, and maybe dredging). Im off to Europe from the 2nd to the 26th of August. So the contact point about the cruise date is through Bob Garrison (egarris@cats.ucsc.edu). He will let you guys know as soon as he can which date is to be scheduled. I hope this all works out because it will be a grand outreach program to Moss Landing and the Cal State Univ system. Cheers, Dave ************************************************************** MESSAGE 2 >Dave: Thanks for the positive response. We had our first class meeting last Wednesday on the 30th. We (Bob Garrison and I) have a class of 11 students. Gary Greene was there to help us get underway okay--and he did buy us lunch at Phils. The MLML Geological Oceanography class is populated mostly by graduate students interested in biological or environmental oceanography, a few have some geologic training. The students enroled in the class to pickup a general background in marine earth science to better career prepare themselves. They are a lively bunch of bright people, so the first class meeting was lots of fun. Toward the end of the day Bob and I outlined a number of scientific problems, identified beforehand by Gary, that the class could address in a one-day cruise on the Pt Sur--presently set for September 27. After some discussion, the class decided to attempt to map the geometry and track of a stream channel(s) that should have crossed the shelf area and fed into the head of Soquel Canyon during times of glacially lowered sea level (last time about 10,000 years ago). Gary says the channel fill exhibits acoustics characteristics (gas-charged seds) that will help us map its buried course. The Soquel channel problem has the additional benefit in that the map area is in the lee of the Santa Cruz bulge and sailing time from ML is just an hour or so. To do the mapping, and to show the class modern field equipment and approaches, heres what we need in the way of equipment: SEISMIC AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS 1) Uniboom--double plate, complete with streamer, amps, and facsimile recorder. 2) MudSeis digital recording and display system 3) YeoNav, and related monitors, display, recording devices etc, using differential GPS 4) Sidescan SURFACE SAMPLING GEAR 1) Box corer 2) Gravity corer 3) Multisampler Although MLML has a one-plate Uniboom sled, it has not been used much. So it would be best if we used MARFAC electronic and geophysical gear. Mike Prince feels the same way. But the Multisampler, I believe, belongs to MLML. Ive never used one so Im not sure what Im asking for or getting into, but the students should have an opportunity to use the latest and sexiest bottom samplers. To efficiently carry everthing off in one day, both technically and scientifically, we need the following smart bodies: John Gan, Larry Kooker, yourself, Mike Prince, Rich Muller, Gary Greene The class will be asked to design the field experiment with respect to an attempt to locate and map the course of a buried stream channel(s) hypothesized to have fed into the head of the canyon during periods of shelf emergence. Theoretically, a number of superimposed channels could exist, each cut during different glacial episodes. Basically, a grid will be established for the Pt Sur to follow. Uniboom records will be used to identify channels and map their course. I doubt that the sidescan will help here, but the class should have an opportunity to also map sediment types (backscatter characteristrics, etc) shelfward of the head of Soquel Canyon. This sort of information is pretty helpful where habitat characterization is needed. I presume that we can tow a small sidescan (analog will do) and also the Uniboom sled?. When the grid survey work is completed, we will pull gear and return to sample surface sediment at interesting sidescan- or Uniboom-located sites. Onboard navigation plots would be really helpful here--can we plot our track work in real time? Also, can we provide a bridge display so that course and direction to a sampling site, or progress along a track, can be graphically or numerically presented??? Its been some time since I helped run a high-resolution investigation on a ship of opportunity, so I could easily be asking for stupid things. But, no matter, I pretty sure that the bunch of us can carry out a problem-oriented outreach program in marine geo-investigations that will prove mutually beneficial to the Survey, our Sanctuary project there, the MLML class members specifically, and State College system more generally. Dennis Mann and Brian Edwards are interested in contributing to the overall effort and class teaching activities. So Im keeping them, as well as Steve Eittreim and a few others, informed about the cruise planning process. Give me a shout next week about these general plans. Because time is rather short, I need a reality check before going further. Cheers, Dave ****************************************************************** MESSAGE 3 Deidre: It was a genuine pleasure meeting you at the Greenes and talking over matters linked to the Pt Sur cruise of the Geological Oceanography class that Bob Garrison and I are teaching. Although I had had a few glasses of wine before we chatted, I think I remember asking if you would be willing to come to our laboratory session (at the ML Benthic Lab) of September 20, which Bob and I want to devote to cruise planning and bringing the class scientifically up to speed about the project they have chosen, which is to attempt to find and map buried channels leading into the head of Soquel Canyon. For your background, at the bottom of this email message Ive pasted on two earlier messages to Dave Hogg of MARFAC and Bob Garrison and Lisa Marrack, and other key folks helping us prepare for and conduct the cruise. The lab begins about 1:30 pm on the 20th. What we had chatted about was providing an opportunity for the class to be briefed about your Soquel science program. And, if possible, 1995contribute to the collection of data beneficial to your effort. Gary told me that youre doing some pretty interesting things in Soquel Canyon, and I for one would like to get informed about your findings and thinkings--can you show-and-tell you stuff on the afternoon of the 20th? The other matter we kicked around was the possibility that you would sail with us on the 27th and be our resident Soquel Canyon scientist--is this possible?? Ive also asked Bob Anima of the USGS to come along because hes been collecting and studying inshore data along the northern side of Monterey Bay. The two of you would be able to accurately inform the class members about canyon and channel related science in Monterey Bay. Im going to be away from my office until Monday--off to Texas A&M to participate in a thesis defense. Ill try to get in contact with you when I return. By the way, following your counsel, Im working through Gary Greene so that we can not only get the Sur loaded before the 27th, but also sail as early as 0700. I know that Murphy is watching our every move, so we are going to need all the time we can get to solve problems and complete the class project in one day. Ciao, Dave ****************************************************************** MESSAGE 5 Date: Tue, 26 Sep 1995 08:53:33 -0700 To: prince@mlml.calstate.edu From: dscholl@octopus.wr.usgs.gov Subject: Folks cruising Cc: regarris@cats.ucsc.edu, marrack@mlml.calstate.edu, dmann@octopus, cdegnan@octopus, bedwards@octopus, greene@mlml.calstate.edu, ranima@octopus, lkooker@octopus.wr.usgs.gov, mboyle@octopus, eittreim@octopus, Deidres@aol.com, dhogg@octopus, pbarnes@octopus, shunt@octopus, cheaney@mlml.calstate.edu Mike: Fraka Harmsen of Fresno State called back and relayed that approximately 10 students and an instructor, possibly Fraka, will be joining us tomorrow on the Pt Sur. So, the rough-count of those sailing is presently: Class members, MS 141-------------------------11 ML class instructors (Dave Scholl, Lisa Marrack, Deidre Sullivan)-------------------3 ML special guests-------------------------------2 MARFAC Specialists (Larry Kooker, Mike Boyle)----2 ML Operations Chuck Cheaney-------------------1 USGS particpating scientists/data specialists-----4 Bob Anima Dennis Mann Carolyn Degnan Brian Edwards Fresno State Instructor and students ----------11 TOTAL ANTICIPATED --------------------34 All students and special guest have been asked to bring bag lunches. Those wishing to mess with ships personnel are the following: Deidra Sullivan Lisa Marrack Mike Boyle Larry Kooker Bob Anima Bryan Edwards Carolyn Degnan Dennis Mann Fraka Harmsen (?) I would like to schedule a short science orientation meeting at about 0645 for the ML students and also those coming from Fresno State. Is this going to be okay, can I hold the meeting and not interfer with getting-underway procedures? I could hold the meeting after we clear the jetty, but I prefer to use this time to introduce folks to the various pieces of equipment we will deploy and the YoNav and 3.5 kHz systems in operations. Run time to deployment, if weather and sea state cooperate, is roughly an hour. I should be down today about 1600 to help load MARFAC gear and get familiar with the Pt Surs layout and operations. Ciao, Dave David W. Scholl Desk: (415)-354-3127 U.S. Geological Survey FAX: (415-354-3191 Ms 999 Email: dscholl@octopus.wr.usgs.gov 345 Middlefield Rd. Menlo Park, Calif. 94025

Staff information imported from InfoBank
Dave Scholl (USGS Western Region) - Chief Scientist
Deidre Sullivan (CSU, MLML) - Chief Scientist
Brian Edwards (USGS Western Region) - Geophysicist
Dennis Mann (USGS Western Region) - Geophysicist
Gary Greene (USGS Western Region) - Geologist
Carolyn Degnan (USGS Western Region) - Geologist
Mike Boyle (USGS Western Region) - Electronic Technician
Larry Kooker (USGS Western Region) - Electronic Technician

Location:

Monterey Bay

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Publications

Portals/Viewers

Data Acquired