Publication Details
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Mapping and Exploration Within and Surrounding the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Oceanography
Author(s): Coleman, D, P Etnoyer, C Caldow, J Bursek, L Marsh, W Sautter, R Freedman, and R Kane
NCCOS Center: CCEHBR
Publication Type: Cruise Report
Journal Title: Oceanography
Date of Publication: 2017
Reference Information: 30(1) Supplement, New Frontiers in Ocean Explorati
p. 40-41
Keywords: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, seafloor map, deep-sea coral, benthic ecosystem, eastern pacific, deep-sea coral garden, bubblegum corals, Plexauridae sea fans, Graneledone octopus, Primnoidae sea fan corals, ophiuroid brittlestars
Abstract: No abstract available, but here are the first three paragraphs of the report:
During July 2016, E/V Nautilus and the Corps of Exploration
conducted a major research and exploration program within
and surrounding the Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary (CINMS) offshore southern California. The sanctuary
was designated in 1980 to protect the natural and cultural
resources around the five northern Channel Islands:
Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa
Barbara. To carry out its mandate to manage these nationally
significant regions, NOAA collects new data to help inform
decision-making. This cruise included a large-scale multibeam
sonar mapping effort to collect detailed bathymetric, acoustic
backscatter, and video data, as well as samples both within
CINMS and in regions outside of the sanctuary boundaries
that are being considered by the public for designation as a
new sanctuary and/or are of particular oceanographic interest.
While seafloor maps are a critical component of decisions
ranging from navigational safety and disaster response to
resource management and conservation, nearly 90% of the
seafloor off southern California remains largely unmapped.
Within the sanctuary, this number is nearly 50%. During
cruise NA074, approximately 286 nm2 (981 km2) was mapped
within CINMS, providing bathymetric data covering over
one-third of the remaining gap within the sanctuary; an additional
420 nm2 (1,441 km2) was mapped outside the sanctuary
(Figure 1). These data will provide an understanding of the
geological structures and biological habitats associated with
the local living marine resources, as well as aid in planning
future oceanographic studies and informing management.
The team also completed 10 ROV dives to ground truth
newly mapped terrain, revisit key locations where cold-water
coral ecosystems thrive, and collect geological and biological
samples, as well as high-definition underwater video and still
imagery (Figure 1). The dives were planned in collaboration
with many Scientists Ashore who helped identify locations
of specific scientific interest and who participated virtually
through telepresence during the dives to help collect more
than 100 samples. Many samples were distributed to our
shore-based partners for detailed analyses.
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