| From October 16-November 3, 2022 (San Diego, California to Newport, Oregon), NOAA
Ocean Exploration conducted mapping operations off the coast of California and Oregon
in U.S. waters, aiding in closing bathymetric gaps within this region. Expedition
EX-22-08 collected 32,416 square kilometers of bathymetry and associated water column
data, 22,313 square kilometers of which were within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone
and Territorial Sea deeper than 200 m, while 10,104 square kilometers were collected
in international waters. 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. A detailed sub-bottom survey targeted previously-identified sponge reefs
in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The exploratory mapping operations
conducted during this cruise will provide initial characterization of the region,
as well as data to support further exploration. |