The goals of this field trial cruise are more operational than exploratory. Like other field trials, this cruise has primary and secondary goals and objectives. Completion of primary goals and objectives will make the cruise a success. The primary goal and objectives will be achieved in the context of mapping in the vicinity of San Francisco, CA, predominantly Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones NMS and their respective proposed Expansion Areas.

The goals of this field trial cruise are to test use of EX mapping sensors to characterize complex geological areas (i.e. volcanic field) and develop protocols to handle discoveries in terms of communication links, public information releases, websites etc. Also during EX0904 CIMS (Cruise Information Management System) was brought online, and integration of this system with mapping system will be tested during this cruise. Like other field trials, this cruise has primary and secondary goals and objectives. Completion of primary goals and objectives will make the cruise a success. The primary goal and objectives will be achieved in the context of mapping in the vicinity of Mendocino ridge.

This cruise is a water column exploration field trial cruise, designed to test and refine operations for conducting water column exploration using NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer (EX) systems and sensors.

First shakedown cruise of 2009 Okeanos Explorer field season.

The exhaustive study of the U.S. data holdings pertinent to the formulation of U.S. potential claims of an extended continental shelf under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (Mayer, et al., 2002) did not identify this area as one of the regions where new bathymetric surveys are needed. However, the ECS Task Force considered the Mendocino Ridge might be a potential extension for the U.S. The Mayer et al. (2002) report recommended that multibeam echosounder (MBES) data are needed to rigorously define (1) the foot of the slope (FoS), a parameter of the two UNCLOS-stipulated formula lines, and (2) the 2500-m isobath, a parameter of one of the UNCLOS-stipulated cutoff lines. Both of these parameters, the first a precise geodetic isobath and second a geomorphic zone, are used to define an extended continental shelf claim. The Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center (CCOM/JHC) of the University of New Hampshire was directed by the U.S. Congress, through funding to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct the new surveys and archive the resultant data.

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Water Column raw (level-0) files (.wcd)

Multibeam and singlebeam mapping operations will be conducted 24 hours a day throughout the cruise. Sub-bottom profile mapping will be conducted each day between the hours of 1000 and 2200 throughout the cruise.