2019 Geophysical surveys and sediment coring in southern Cascadia (northern California) Completed
Geophysical data and sediment cores collected offshore of northern California in 2019, a USGS-BOEM partnership
These surveys are part of the USGS project, “Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards.”
Objectives
The sediment sampling and geophysical surveys were designed to address questions regarding tectonic activity and sediment dispersal patterns across the margin. Survey tracks and sampling sites were targeted to investigate the Eel River forearc basin sedimentation history and the sources and pathways of sediment gravity flows, both of which provide context for interpreting the deep-sea turbidite record. In addition, these data will provide key information for understanding the earthquake history of active structures in southern Cascadia.
Participants
USGS Scientists: Jenna Hill (PI), Janet Watt, Danny Brothers, Nora Nieminski, Gerry Hatcher, Brandon Nasr, Pete Del Ferro, Jenny and UCSC Student: Travis Alonghi (Photo 7)
Partners
Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM)
Platform Used
Data Collected
Jumbo piston/gravity sediment cores (Photos 1-5), Sparker multi-channel seismic (MCS), Chirp sub-bottom profiler (Photo 6)
Highlights
- >2,100 km of Chirp sub-bottom and sparker multi-channel seismic data collected
- ~40 sediment cores (3-7 m in length) recovered
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- Overview
Geophysical data and sediment cores collected offshore of northern California in 2019, a USGS-BOEM partnership
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details2019 Geophysical surveys and sediment coring in southern Cascadia (northern California) These surveys are part of the USGS project, “Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards.”
Objectives
The sediment sampling and geophysical surveys were designed to address questions regarding tectonic activity and sediment dispersal patterns across the margin. Survey tracks and sampling sites were targeted to investigate the Eel River forearc basin sedimentation history and the sources and pathways of sediment gravity flows, both of which provide context for interpreting the deep-sea turbidite record. In addition, these data will provide key information for understanding the earthquake history of active structures in southern Cascadia.
Participants
USGS Scientists: Jenna Hill (PI), Janet Watt, Danny Brothers, Nora Nieminski, Gerry Hatcher, Brandon Nasr, Pete Del Ferro, Jenny and UCSC Student: Travis Alonghi (Photo 7)
Partners
Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM)
Platform Used
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 7: USGS scientists on the stern (back deck) of M/V Bold Horizon in San Francisco Bay: (back row, standing, left to right) Brandon Nasr, Danny Brothers, Travis Alonghi (USGS student contractor), Gerry Hatcher, Jenna Hill, Pete Dal Ferro, and Jenny McKee; and (front row, kneeling, left to right) USGS scientists Janet Watt and Nora Nieminski. Data Collected
Jumbo piston/gravity sediment cores (Photos 1-5), Sparker multi-channel seismic (MCS), Chirp sub-bottom profiler (Photo 6)
Highlights
- >2,100 km of Chirp sub-bottom and sparker multi-channel seismic data collected
- ~40 sediment cores (3-7 m in length) recovered
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Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 1: USGS scientists Pete Dal Ferro and Jenny McKee securing a recently collected jumbo piston core (JPC) on the back deck of M/V Bold Horizon for preliminary core processing.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 2: USGS Mendenhall postdoc Nora Nieminski showing some love for a trigger core recovered from the Cascadia subduction zone.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 3: USGS scientist Janet Watt making a shear vane measurement on a gravity core to understand how the seafloor responds to earthquake shaking. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 4: USGS scientists Nora Nieminski, Jenna Hill, and Brandon Nasr working to cap and secure a trigger core on deck. Trigger cores can provide important information about seafloor sediments just below the seafloor.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 5: USGS scientists Brandon Nasr, Jenna Hill, Nora Nieminski, and Jenny McKee removing a sediment-filled core liner from the jumbo piston core barrel with the picturesque northern California coastline in the background.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto 6: USGS student contractor Travis Alonghi and USGS scientist Danny Brothers deploying the Chirp sub-bottom profiler at sunset from M/V Bold Horizon.