Summary for Field Activity Number 2005-005-FA

Area of Operations: Merrimack Embayment, Massachusetts, Gulf of Maine, United States, North America, North Atlantic

Dates: September 06, 2005 to September 21, 2005

Objectives: Sea floor mapping to: 1) support management of ocean resources; 2) clarify the post-glacial history of sea-level change in the region; 3) reconstruct coastal environments and quantifying rates of change over the last few thousand years; and 4) develop a sediment budget for the coastal system, which is experiencing chronic erosion.

Type of Activity: Sampling (SEABOSS)
Seismic profiling
Sea floor mapping

Information to be derived: Grain size analysis
Sea Floor Map
Bathymetric Maps
high-resolution geologic maps

Summary: We collected 100% coverage of sea floor with bathymetry and sidescan sonar data, approximately 1000 km of seismic reflection profiles, and grab samples and bottom photography/video at 93 stations. Cruise focused on nearshore areas in water depths of 5-25 m to complete the surficial mapping that was begun in 2003 (SAIC contract multibeam). Sub-bottom profiles were collected throughout entire study area in water depths of 5-90 m.

USGS Project Number: 2921-AWW56 - Project Description

Contact: Walter Barnhardt (wbarnhardt@usgs.gov)

InfoBank: uses the identifier C-1-05-GU. Visit this site for more information.