piston core. the 3.5 kHz seismic data (showing sub-bottom profiles of
sedimentary layers) is successfully capturing the same stratigraphy
along strike. we can follow individual strata as we move south along
the subduction zone trench. we have been coring in the trench (abyssal
plain) and have been obtaining 5-7 sections (each ~1.5 m long).
we have been having problems finding good core sites in the shallower
basins of the accretionary prism in the continental slope. there is
rugged topography and the seismic data get confounded by this (the
best situation for seismic profiling is over flat topography as the
seismic waves bounce off a large area of ground, so if there are
cliffs adjacent to the flat area, we see both sets of "returns" and it
is difficult to distinguish the data from only a specific area; so,,,,
it is really hard to see the sub-bottom strata here). we would like to
core in the shallower areas so that we will have more foraminiferid
fossils (calcium carbonate shells for radiocarbon age control).
i saw several dolphins the other day. after that, people saw the same
group and noticed that some were the type that do not have a dorsal
fin. then yesterday we got too see a short shark. it was swimming
along side our ship. apparently this is rather rare and some on board
with more ship time than i said they had only seen a shark once
before. lucky me (and us).
back to work! i hope i get more than 3 hours sleep tonight. my shift
is 12 midnight to 12 noon and it is difficult to shift my body
clock... blessings, jay
1 comment:
So glad the coring is going well! Thanks for giving us an idea of where you are... I can picture you there. The ship doesn't seem to have any web cams set up....:-( I really enjoyed seeing you off Sumatra, and the sunrises were beautiful.... so this time we will have to imagine, and wait for your photos. At least we are in the same time Zone!
Hope you get that equipment working better.
Especially glad you are not sea sick anymore!
Matt and I went the the Star Wars in Concert tour last night. This was the US premier, and we saw it the second night. Orchestra came from London and fill in musicians from all over the US. It was glorious. CP3O..(I am not awake yet, Anthony Danials?) did the narration, and the film clips were ptojected on a 30 foot tall tv screen . We had great seats, altho I think any seats would be terrific. We sat next to a man who had done some art work in the original. We got his card, so we can check out his website. Talked to a musician who drove down from Fresno to be here.
Lots of children... all ages, folks in wheelchairs, too. They are filming and will made a dvd.. but no sound is the same as a live performance!
Anyway, it was enjoyable.
Happy fall, the weather is finally out of the 90's and cooling down. The tv weather guy is teasing us with the promise of sprinkles on Sunday. I would just love a downpour.
All for now.
Enjoy!
Love, Mom and Matt
Post a Comment