Error processing SSI file
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
SSE Accomplishments
Report
Overview
|
The
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
research vessel Ballena (shown if
front of Arch Rock off Anacapa Island)
acted as a support vessel during the
missions.
|
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary set
out to accomplish several research objectives
during a ten day Sustainable Seas Expedition. The
first objective was to test the DeepWorker
submersible as a research platform and to modify
research protocols designed for use with the
DeepWorker. To this end, 18 dives were completed
around Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands and data were
gathered on fish assemblages and habitat. Other
research activities conducted during the mission
included mapping over 80 square nautical miles of
bottom habitat using a U.S. Geological Survey
high-resolution digital sidescan sonar. University
California-Santa Barbara scientists conducted 20
full oceanographic and optic stations describing
the physical oceanography of dive sites and
sidescan areas.
Sidescan
Sonar
During the
1999 Expedition in the Channel Islands National
Marine Sanctuary approximately 150 square
kilometers of sidescan sonar data were collected.
Sidescan sonar data processing is presently one
third complete. Submersible dives were also made in
the sidescan areas. Observations and video
collected on the dives will complement the sidescan
sonar data to provide benthic habitat
maps.
|
Michael
Neumann deploys one of the optics
instruments used to collect data for a
study on the relationship of
satellite-sensed ocean color to chemical
and biological parameters.
|
|
Mike
Boyle and crew work on the sidescan sonar
fish before beginning a night of sidescan
operations.
|
|
Ed
Cassano, sanctuary manager, prepares for
his first dive off Anacapa Island.
|
return
to overview
(top)
|