USGS CMG 2010-077-FA Metadata

Measure erodability of surficial sediments using Gust Erosion Microcosm
System (GEMS); obtain conductivity-temperture-depth profiles (CTD); obtain
samples of surficial sediments for texture analysis.

Grain size analysis;Sediment erodability

The principal objective of this cruise (led by scientists at the Woods
Hole Oceanographic Instituion (WHOI)) was to obtain samples of the
surficial sediments using a Craib corer at approximately 110 stations in
the Gulf of Maine for analysis of Alexandrium cyst concentration. This
fall 2010 distribution of cysts will be used as input to numerical models
for forecasting Alexandrium blooms in the spring of 2011.  USGS
participation was to measure sediment erodability (using a GEMS system) on
cores collected using the USGS slow corer at 5-10 stations as time
permitted.  Samples of the surficial sediment for texture analysis by USGS
were obtained from the sediment samples collected by WHOI for cyst
analysis and water-column profiles from a USGS CTD attached to the Craib
corer were obtained for analysis of the suspended sediment distribution.
Data gathered include: ~150 CTD casts; ~100 surficial sediment samples for
texture analysis; erodability measurements at 6 stations (two cores each
station) using GEMS.

Platform Owner:
University of Rhode Island
Sponsoring Office:
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Affiliate Principal and Organization (if any):
Bruce Keafer (Chief Scientist), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution;
Don Anderson (PI), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Number of days at sea:
11
 Major Center Equipment Required:
Corer - slow,conductivity-temperature-depth profiler (CTD), Gust
Erosion Microcosm System (GEMS)
 Equipment Required from Other Sources:
Craib corer
Data Types:
Location/Navigation, Oceanographic Measurement, Samples/Cores,
Degree of Certainty:
certain
Continuous Data (in km):
0
Number of Stations Occupied:
0
Number of Submersible Dives:
0
Science Strategy:
Ecosystems;Hazards;Human Health;
Notes:
Sampling the sediments for the cyst concentration was the primary
objective of this cruise.  Sampling was suspended and/or steaming slowed
for about two days (~10/15 and 10/21) of the cruise due to high seas.
Coring for erosion analysis was successfully carried out at six stations
along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire-Maine-Canadian coast; however, due
to time constraints cores were not be obtained in Jordan or Wilkenson
Basin.  This was the first time the GEMS system was used by USGS at sea.
Submitted By:
Brad Butman
Report Date:
2010-11-04

2921-DYN02