Dr. Mark Kurz – Chief Scientist
WHOI, Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Dept.

Dr. Dan Fornari – Co-Chief Scientist
WHOI, Geology & Geophysics Dept.

Prof. Denny Geist – Co-Chief Scientist
University of Idaho, Dept. of Geology

Mr. JJ Becker – data analyst
Scripps Institution of Oceanography/GRD GDC

Ms. Kate Buckman – student
Sea Education Association (SEA) and WHOI

Mr. Francisco Cruz – observer
Charles Darwin Research Station

Mr. Josh Curtice – technician
WHOI

Ms. Jenny Engels – graduate stuent.
University of Hawaii, SOEST

Mr. Todd Ericksen – technician
University of Hawai’i, Hawaii Mapping Research Group

Mr. Ben Grosser – grad student
University of Idaho

Mr. Jeremey Haney – undergraduate student
University of Idaho

Prof. Karen Harpp
Colgate University

Mr. Dan Jacobson – computer technician
SIO

Mr. Paul Johnson – MR1 Expedition Leader
University of Hawai’i, Hawaii Mapping Research Group

Dr. Joe Licciardi – Post-Doc.
WHOI

Mr. Robert Otto – undergraduate student
Colgate University

Mr. Jules Paredes-Jarrin – observer
Galapagos National Park

Ms. Uta Peckman – data analyst
SIO – Geologic Data Center

Mr. Gene Pillard – resident technician
SIO

Ms. Christina Reed – science writer
WHOI

Dr. Bob Reynolds
Central Oregon Community College

Dr. Alberto Saal
Lamont Doherthy Earth Observatory

Mr. Steve Tottori – technician
University of Hawaii SOEST/HMRG

Mr. Steve Volpe – undergraduate student
University of Florida

Ms. Rhian Waller – graduate student
Southampton Oceanography Centre, UK

Regional Track Chart

Survey Track Chart

Dredge log | Biology Samples | Biology Specimens

DRIFT Leg 04 | MR1 Operations Report |Hawaii Mapping Research Group

Mobilization

            The R/V Roger Revelle arrived in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica on the morning of August 18.   The MR1 System was on the pier prior to the ship’s arrival and was immediately loaded onto Revelle by ship’s crew.  The ship then transited to immediately Puntarenas where the HMRG team arrived that afternoon.

Mobilization efforts continued on the follow morning, August 19.  The MR1 Launch and Recovery System, deck winch, and hydraulic power pack were positioned on the deck and the topside telemetry, acquisition, and processing computers set up in the ship’s hydrolab.  All preparations for survey were complete by the time the Revelle departed Puntarenas at noon on August 23.

Survey

            The MR1 was deployed three times in the course of DRIFT Leg IV.

A preliminary survey was planned to image the area northeast of Genovesa Island before stopping in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos.  MR1 was deployed August 26 north of Genovesa in a region of relatively flat seafloor.  Shortly after deployment a calibration of the towfish compass was performed by executing a complete 360° turn to port followed by a 360° turn to starboard.   Data collected from ships navigation and compass in the MR1 towfish were used to form a compass correction applied in the navigation of all MR1data.   Initial acoustic phase angle to nadir angle tables were produced from data collected over the flat seafloor.  The survey continued on from Genovesa toward Santa Cruz and ended just offshore of  Puerto Ayora.

The primary focus of the survey began within hours of leaving Puerto Ayora on August 28.  Over the next five days the areas to the south and southwest of Isabella and Fernandina islands and northwest of Isabella were imaged.

At approximately 2200 GMT on August 29 a significant amount of noise was seen in the MR1 realtime display and the decision made to recover the towfish.  The source of noise was quickly diagnosed as loose fasteners in the panels covering the electronics compartment.  The fasteners were tightened and sealed and the towfish redeployed.  The problem was fixed and surveying resumed within two hours of noticing the noise.  The survey  was completed without further event.

A third survey segment was performed on September 7^th and 8^th due to halted dredging operations.   The MR1 was deployed north of Isabella and  surveyed east between the islands of Pinta and Marchena and on to survey the ridge northeast of Genovesa.  The MR1 was recovered for the last time on September 8^th.

            Preparations for demobilization began September 17 while continuing dredging operations.

Survey Timeline:

GenovesaDrogue away

Deploy MR1

Begin calibration

Calibration complete

Recover MR1238/0220

238/0242

238/0340

238/0556

238/1445   Tow02.01

Fernandina – Isabella – FlorianaDrogue away

Deploy MR1

MR1 on deck – noise issues

Continue survey

Recover MR1240/0221

240/0340

241/2322

242/0036

244/0857   Tow03.01

Isabella – GenovesaDrogue away

Deploy MR1

Recover MR1250/0707

250/0727

251/0715

1 to 050000

1 to 100000

1 to 200000

1 to 400000