Images

The year 2022 was big for the Sea-Floor Mapping Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center!

In September 2022, Hurricane Ian made two landfalls on the west coast of Florida and South Carolina, creating a large, impacted region. As part of the NOPP Project, USGS forecasted the event as the hurricane approached landfall.

The center conducted a multibeam echosounder, chirp, and multichannel seismic survey and slow coring effort to support a continuing project investigating stratigraphy and mudflow hazards along the Mississippi River Delta Front. Data were collected between Southwest and South Passes in water depths between 20 and over 300 meters.

First recovered core using the new mega multicorer during a survey of the Mississippi River Delta Front on the R/V Pelican, September 2022. A total of 1.13 m of sediment was recovered in this core, with a fully preserved sediment-water interface.

Annotated view of the Instruments attached to the new customized USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program mega multicorer.

New customized USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program “mega multicorer” fabricated by OSIL and instrumented by WHCMSC marine technicians ready for deployment on the R/V Pelican on the Mississippi River Delta Front, September 2022.

USGS Marine Operations Specialist, Chuck Worley, assisting with the recovery of the first successful deployment of the new mega multicorer during a survey of the Mississippi River Delta Front on the R/V Pelican, September 2022.

New customized USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program “mega multicorer” fabricated by OSIL and instrumented by WHCMSC marine technicians ready for deployment on the R/V Pelican on the Mississippi River Delta Front, September 2022.

New customized USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program “mega multicorer” fabricated by OSIL and instrumented by WHCMSC marine technicians ready for deployment on the R/V Pelican on the Mississippi River Delta Front, September 2022.

The center conducted a multibeam echosounder, chirp, and multichannel seismic survey and slow coring effort to support a continuing project investigating stratigraphy and mudflow hazards along the Mississippi River Delta Front. Data were collected between Southwest and South Passes in water depths between 20 and over 300 meters.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States coasts from both older sources, such as aerial photos or topographic surveys, as well as contemporary sources like lidar elevation point clouds and digital elevation models (DEMs).

The soil core (top) was collected from Bass Creek, Yarmouth, MA, which was restored in 2008. From this soil core, scientists recreated the elevation of the marsh surface over the past 100 years, as well as how quickly elevation changed.

Maeve Munnelly and Marie Bartlett watching the real-time video feed from the mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (mini-SEABOSS) aboard the R/V Auk during a survey with scientists from the NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS).

WHCMSC scientists and technical staff conducted a Seabed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS) survey in collaboration with NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to acquire sea-floor samples, video, and photographs within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Maeve Munnelly and Tammy Silva (SBNMS) looking for sandlance in the sediment grab collected with the mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (mini-SEABOSS) aboard the R/V Auk during a survey with scientists from the NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS).

Maeve Munnelly, Marie Bartlett and Seth Ackerman on the deck of the R/V Auk with the mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (mini-SEABOSS) during a survey with scientists from the NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS). 

Marie Bartlett and Maeve Munnelly setting up the mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (mini-SEABOSS) aboard the R/V Auk during a survey with scientists from the NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS).

The Marston Mills Discover Flying RC Club has welcomed the AIM group to use their space to fly their UAS.

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists have been working with the University of Georgia and NOAA restoration staff to record pre-restoration conditions at an impounded wetland in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Marston Mills Discover Flying RC Club has welcomed the AIM group to use their space to fly their UAS.

After a couple years of working with students virtually, a big highlight of this season was having students in-person throughout the summer. In celebration, center staff organized the Woods Hole Summer Student Barbecue, an event for the summer students and their mentors working at all the different science institutions throughout Woods Hole.