May 25 to June 5, 1999 - AR9905
Pt. Hueneme, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

• characterize benthic habitats and their associated flora and fauna
• investigate the geology and biology of the sanctuary
• describe the relationship between physical features and deep water biological communities

The Sustainable Seas Expedition is a 5 year project involving several organizations and individuals, it's aim is to study the ocean "with unprecedented scientific rigor" and to provide information that will help environmentalists and policy makers to make informed decisions. The McArthur's role in the first phase of this project is to provide a working platform for a manned submersible called Deep Worker.

Work performed on this trip:
Deep Worker was used to visually survey the seafloor in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. All dives were done off Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island in the northern Channel Islands. Launch and recovery operations were conducted from the fantail while the McArthur was underway and also while at anchor. A pre-dive checkout and preparation of Deep Worker was completed by the scientists before each dive. One of the McArthur's rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) was used as surface support and to provide a platform for the swimmer that de-attached and attached Deep Worker. The submersible was tracked on the surface from the McArthur via an acoustic navigation system and through voice communication. Personnel transfers were made via the sanctuary boats the Ballena and Xantu.

In addition to the submersible work, sidescan sonar surveys were conducted each night to map the benthic habitats around Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island. A sidescan sonar fish was deployed off the fantail of the McArthur and the data was monitored and recorded on a computer in the Oceanographic lab.

Optical, chemical and biological data was also collected from several spots around the islands. This data will be used to help understand and model the color of the surface waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Each station consisted of a CTD cast and deployment of optical sensors. The optical measurements were made with a Tethered Spectral Radiometer Buoy (TSRB) and a Profiling Reflectance Radiometer (PRR). Water samples were collected during the CTD cast and filtered in the Oceanographic Lab on the McArthur.

Personnel from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), Sustainable Seas Expedition (SSE), Nuytco Research, Ltd. and DOER Marine Operations participated in this project.

Follow the Sustainable Seas Expedition through the official SSE log at: http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov/ missions/mission.html

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URL: http://www.moc.noaa.gov/ar/projects/ar9905.htm
Updated: April 18, 2000