RRS James Cook Cruise 35, 7-19 Jun 2009. Sidescan sonar mapping of the Whittard Canyon, Celtic Margin

摘要

James Cook cruise 035 was aimed at the detailed mapping of the Whittard Canyon systemudalong the Celtic Margin (NE Atlantic). In 12 days, >700 km of track-lines were surveyed withudthe Towed Ocean Bottom Instrument (TOBI, carrying a 30 kHz sidescan sonar system withudphase bathymetry capability, an 8 kHz chirp profiler and a magnetometer) and 6130 km2 ofudshipborne multibeam data was acquired over the 4 main branches of the canyon. Thisudcomprehensive and highly detailed dataset will provide new insights in canyon morphology,udformation, sediment transport processes and into the resulting spatial distribution of benthicudhabitats. In addition, the data formed an indispensable base map for the planning of ROV divesudduring the follow-on cruise JC036.ud