Summary Information for Field Activity 2011-002-FA

Area of Operations:

Dates: May 09, 2011 to June 11, 2011

Chief scientist: Kathy Scanlon

   Laura Robinson, WHOI and Bristol University UK

Objectives: Collect multibeam bathymetry and seafloor photos to map and characterize possible cold-water coral habitats in the Drake Passage area. Fossil and live corals will be collected by dredge and trawl for paleoclimate and biologic studies. All data will be archived at WHOI and will be the responsiblity of Principal Investigator Dr. Laura Robinson. USGS (Scanlon) will have access to data for collaborative studies.

Type of Activity: Sampling;Sea floor mapping;Photography;Drake Passage, Chile, Argentina, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Information to be derived: Samples and chemical analysis;Grain size analysis;Bathymetric maps;

Summary: Multibeam data, biological samples, fossil coral samples, rock samples, and photographic data were collected from sites in the Drake Passage between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Sites ranged from shelf edge to deep ocean and included the following areas: Burdwood Bank, Shackleton Fracture Zone, West Antarctic Peninsula Shelf, Interim Seamount, Sars Seamount, and Cape Horn Shelf. In addition, 6 CTDs and 6 sediment cores were collected. Data collection on this cruise adds to the field work begun on NBP-0805 (2008-004-FA)cruise in 2008.

Contact: Kathy Scanlon (kscanlon@usgs.gov)

Related Links: http://antarcticcorals.blogspot.com/