USGS - science for a changing world

USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Field Activity Details for field activity 1975-017-FA

View new CMGDS report form

Other ID: FAY 001

Status: Completed

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

Funding Program(s):

Principal Investigator(s): Michael Bothner, William Dillon

Affiliate Investigator(s):

Information Specialist(s):

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

Scientific Purpose/Goals: The main purpose of the cruise was to collect cores of sediment up to 20 feet long to provide lithology and age of the subsurface sediments. Sampling locations were selected to correlate with geophysical information obtained on a later cruise to this area by this office. A number of special studies were also carried out: 1. Collection of suspended matter at the surface and bottom of the water column to determine total concentration, mineralogy, trace metals, and special characteristics as determined with a scanning electron microscope; 2. collection of hydrostatically damped gravity cores to determine vertical variability of trace metals and hydrocarbons in undisturbed near-surface sediments; 3. collection of grab samples at replicate stations to statistically determine the within-station and within-sample variability on Georges Bank; 4. placement of reference stakes in the bottom with the vibracore apparatus or on the bottom with a railroad wheel anchor to serve as a long-term monitor of sediment accumulation and/or erosion at specific localities; 5. seismic profiling, especially in areas of the reference pipes, to determine present day forms at the sediment surface.

Vehicle(s):

Start Port/Location: Woods Hole, MA

End Port/Location: Woods Hole, MA

Start Date: 1975-09-02

End Date: 1975-09-22

Equipment Used: Alpine Vibracorer, Smith-MacIntyre grab, Niskin bottle, 3.5 kHz, Sidescan sonar, Sparker , Gravity corer, 35 mm camera, Loran-C, Single channel hydrophone

Information to be Derived: Samples and chemical analysis; Suspended sediment concentrations; Sea floor map;

Summary of Activity and Data Gathered: Although all objectives were completed satisfactorily, this cruise was plagued with equipment failures necessitating a return to port on 2 occasions and loss of 6 sea days. Stations: 27; Bottom sediment samples: 68 (Vibracores: 21; Hydrostatically-damped gravity cores: 35; Smith-McIntyre grab samples: 12); Suspended Sediment Samples: 42 (2 m below surface: 20; 2 m above bottom: 22); Reference pipes emplaced: 5 (Stakes in sediment: 2; Stakes with railroad wheel base and pingers: 3); 3.5 kHz sonar and sidescan sonar: 83 km; Minisparker: 300 km.

Staff: Michael Bothner, Robert F. Commeau, William Dillon, Patricia Forrestel, Frank W. Jennings, Lyle D. McGinnis, Dennis W. O'Leary, Lanci Valentine, Stanley Locker

Affiliate Staff:
Legs 1A
B
and C
Sep. 2-22
1975
Alpine Geophysical Co.: James Katsolis
John Ripp
Michael Andreotta
John Ratkowitz
Charles Gove
John Eastlund

Notes: Original Center People field contained: Mike Bothner - Ch. Sci.; Leg 1A, Sep. 2-8, 1975: Mike Bothner - Ch. Sci., Robert Commeau, Douglas Peeler, Dennis O'Leary, David Brandon, Patricia Forrestel, Lanci Valentine, Michael Kerkmann, and Frank Jennings; Leg 1B, Sep. 13-14, 1975: Bill Dillon - Ch. Sci., Douglas Peeler, Patricia Forrestel, Lanci Valentine, Michael Kerkmann, Robert Commeau, Felicity Oram, and Lyle McGinnis; Leg 1C, Sep. 16-22, 1975: Mike Bothner - Ch. Sci., Patricia Forrestel, Lyle McGinnis, Douglas Peeler, Michael Kerkmann, Peter Gleba, Felicity Oram, and Stanley Locker.
Project = Environmental Assessment, Environmental Assessment
Information from Foghorn: Hydrostatically damped gravity corer;Smith-McIntyre grab sampler;Niskin top-drop 30-liter water sampling bottles;Suspended sediment filtering system;3.5 kHz system;Sidescan sonar system;Minisparker;

Location:

Georges Bank, United States, North America, North Atlantic,

Boundaries
North: 41.9 South: 40.2 West: -70.5 East: -66.2

Platform(s):

photo of Fay
Fay

Publications

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, equipment and data acquisition notes, area maps including tracklines and sample station locations.

Data Acquired

Survey EquipmentSurvey InfoData Type(s)Data Collected
Alpine Vibracorer --- Geology
Smith-MacIntyre grab --- Biology
Geology
Niskin bottle --- Chemistry
3.5 kHz --- Sub Bottom Profiler
1975-017-FA-SE-001 ( Collection of paper record displays of seismic data( 3.5K) for lines )
Sidescan sonar --- Sidescan
1975-017-FA-SO-001 (microfilm of )
Sparker --- Sparker
Gravity corer --- Geology
35 mm camera --- Photo
1975-017-FA-PH-001 (Deck photos of field activity operations)
Loran-C --- Navigation
1975-017-FA-LN-001-01 (Trackline map with line numbers and times.)
Single channel hydrophone --- Air Gun / Water Gun
Boomer
Bubble Gun
Sparker
Sub Bottom Profiler
1975-017-FA-SE-002 (microfilm of )

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Questions or Comments? Contact CMGDS Team
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov