Multibeam Bathymetry Analysis of Deep Ocean Geomorphology in the Samoa Islands

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Multibeam Bathymetry Analysis of Deep Ocean
Geomorphology in the Samoa Islands

• Jed Roberts
• November 7, 2005
• GEO 534 Research Proposal

Keywords Samoa Islands, Tonga Trench, multibeam
bathymetry, seafloor geomorphology, seamounts,
fracture zones
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Image produced by the National Park Service
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The Island Chain
Image produced by the National Park Service
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Why Bother?

• Geomorphological interpretation of seafloor areas
  never before studied with the aid of high
  resolution data
  
• Insights into the origin of the Samoa island
  chain
  
• Identification and cataloging of previously
  unknown seamounts
  
• Associated with patterns of volcanism
• Important as marine habitats

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Methodology

• Compilation of raw 200-meter resolution multibeam
  bathymetry datasets to create one seamless,
  georeferenced dataset
  
• Data collected during several separate cruises
  operated by OSU, University of South Florida, and
  the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  
• Comparison of Samoa seafloor geomorphology with
  that of similar locales throughout the world

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Tectonic Scheme
Original image provided by GEsource
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MultibeamSonar!
Bathymetric data is derived from acoustic
backskatter
Image provided by www.reson.it
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Multibeam Bathymetric Data in Samoa
Data collected during the 2002 Revelle Cruise,
courtesy of Dawn Wright
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Budget Summary

• Data already acquired!

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Research TimelineJanuary 1, 2006 January 1,
2007

• Data compilation (January)
• Literature review (February-March)
• Visualizations and modeling (April)
• Analysis and interpretation of features and
  processes (May-August)
  
• Documentation of findings thesis
  (September-November)
  
• Submittal of seamount data (December)

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Funding Sources

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research
  Fellowship Program (GRFP)
  
• National Science Foundation Division of Ocean
  Sciences
  
• Marine Geology and Geophysics Grant
• MARGINS Program (continental margins)

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Gimme Money!