Elucidation of the marine ecosystem fluctuation mechanism in the Sanriku offshore area

Representative Organization: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

2015/04/03 - 2015/04/12

Off Sanriku region

Research Cruise

The purpose of this cruise is to understand the impacts to marine ecosystems by the 2011 Earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku) and Tsunami, and to contribute by marine science aspects to recover and rebuild of Sanriku fisheries activities. Target areas are sea bottom layers off Sanriku. This cruise is conducted under the TEAMS project, namely Tohoku Ecosystem Array of Marine Sciences. Detail investigation subjects are topographic surveys, mapping of scattered debris, distribution patterns and diversity of benthic organisms, seawater and sediments chemical and sediment components. Based on these data and samples, we will construct habitat map for ecosystem management in Sanriku areas. In this cruise, we plan to obtain acoustic data to fully understand the recent bathymetry, seafloor condition. To obtain higher accuracy data for correcting the current seafloor condition including marine earthquake debris, we will use a towing side scan sonar with 120 kHz and 410 kHz acoustic signals and the synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) system developed by JAMSTEC. We will conduct the shipboard MBES survey.

FY2015 Elucidation of the marine ecosystem fluctuation mechanism in the Sanriku offshore area