The Science Expedition
This expedition consists of a marine geophysical survey en route to Panama and a more detailed study in the Panama Basin. While there will be data collection during the transit leg of the cruise, it will a time used to optimize data collection for the Panama Basin. The main objective is to better understand the tectonics of the area, namely the "North Nazca"oceanic microplate, seeking to provide more complete data and more robust interpretations of the area.
The main techniques used in the survey are: multibeam, magnetics and acoustic (CHIRP) profiling, which are defined below:
Multibeam: Swath seabed mapping using the Kongsberg EM122 echosounder with up to 288 beams and an average acoustic footprint of 50m.
Kongsberg EM122
Magnetics: A ship bourne system is in place which allows us to detect anomalies in the Earths crust which are created by changes in the magnetic field as the poles reverse over time.
Sub-bottom Profiler: Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse (CHIRP) a several kilohertz wide beam capable of penetrating ~100m into the seabed.
More Information: Geophysical Survey Methodology
The data will be brought back to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, where it will be analyzed using MB-System (swath sonar processing software) by the Marine Physical Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Peter Lonsdale.
The Ship
The R/V Melville, one of the four research vessels operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It is the oldest ship, built in 1969, and measures 279 feet in length. More information can be found on the Ship Operations website.
