| From May 14 - June 7, 2022 (Newport, Rhode Island to St. John?s, Newfoundland), NOAA
Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations on the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone,
aiding in closing bathymetric gaps within this region. EX-22-04 collected 46,250 square
kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column data. During mapping operations,
NOAA Ocean Exploration simultaneously collected EM 304 multibeam sonar bathymetry
observations and Simrad EK60/EK80 split-beam fisheries sonar observations of biologic
material in the water column, as well as Knudsen 3260 sub-bottom profiler observations
of sub-seafloor geologic structure and sediment. Additionally, a calibration of the
EK60/EK80 transducers was completed. The exploratory mapping operations conducted
during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region, as well as
data to support further exploration. |