Summary for Field Activity Number 1987-017-FA

Alternate Leg ID: S-1-87-SC

Area of Operations: Point Sal, Ventura, California, United States, North America, North Pacific

Dates: May 05, 1987 to May 09, 1987

Objectives: This cruise was conducted as part of the sediment transport project of the California OCS Phase II Monitoring Program. The objectives of the cruise were to: 1) conduct a sidescan sonar survey at three locations (in the vicinity of regional stations R8, PJ1, and R9, stations A, B and C, respectively); 2) deploy subsurface current moorings at these three sites; 3) deploy GEOPROBES at stations A and B; 4) collect box cores for detailed sediment analysis; and 5) conduct a hydrographic and suspended matter survey on three cross-slope transects.

Type of Activity: Mooring work
sidescan sonar survey
collect box cores

Information to be derived: Time series data
Samples and Chemical Analysis
Grain size analysis
Suspended Sediment Concentrations

Summary: All major objectives of the R/V SPROUL cruise were accomplished despite temporary failure of the sidescan and CTD systems. The sidescan sonar survey revealed several interesting features. The sea floor around Station R8 was generally featureless. Around the site-specific sampling array, numerous trawl marks and whale gouges were observed. Numerous large pits, 5-10 m diameter, were observed at Station R9 as well as trawl marks. The pits may be caused by shallow gas. Moorings deployed: 3 (#324, recovered FA 87038 ALOHA Sep. 14-17, 1987; #325 and 326, no recovery information).

USGS Project Number: SEDTRANS

Contact: Brad Butman (bbutman@usgs.gov)

InfoBank: uses the identifier S-1-87-SC. Visit this site for more information.