Resources

Le Suroit PROGRES

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)Le Suroit (35LU)
Cruise identifierPROGRES
Cruise period2003-07-22 — 2003-08-18
StatusCompleted
Port of departureToulon, France
Port of returnToulon, France
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe objective of PROGRES cruise was to examine the Western Mediterranean gravity sedimentation (mass movements and turbidite systems) from the continental rise (Gulf of Lions, Catalan Margin and Western Corsican Margin) to the deep Balearic Basin, at different time scales, from the Upper Quaternary back to the whole Plio-Quaternary. The aim of these studies was to integrate the sedimentary systems into a common chronological scheme of the sedimentary evolution of the margin, from the continental shelf to the deep basin. Four main questions have been addressed: (1) the origin of the 10-m thick transparent deposits accumulated in the Balearic Basin; (2) the architecture, relative age and acoustic nature of the distal parts of the Rhône and Valencia turbidite systems; (3) the basinwards extension of the mass movement deposits known on the Gulf of Lions' rise and their recurrence throughout the Plio-Quaternary; (4) the basinwards extension of recent/active erosional processes evidenced at the foot of the Gulf of Lions' rise.
PROGRES cruise was organised into two legs (2-days stop in Minorca Island). During 27 days we continuously acquired high and very high resolution geophysical data, including EM300 bathymetry and acoustic imagery, chirp and 6-channels seismic profiles, with 13 regional profiles and 2 boxes where a systematic EM300 mapping was conducted at the transition between the various sedimentary systems.
The cruise is a contribution of UMR 6538 (L. Droz) to the WP3 ("Slope and deepwater sedimentary systems") of the EUROSTRATAFORM European project. It associated several French and European specialists of deepwater sedimentary systems (UMR 6538/Brest University, IFREMER, Perpignan University, Bordeaux 1 University, CNR-Bologna-Italy, Barcelona University-Spain, Southampton Oceanography Centre-UK)
Chief scientistLaurence Droz (University of Western Brittany Ocean Physics Laboratory)
ProjectEUROSTRATAFORM (European Programme No. EVK3-CT-2002-00079)
Coordinating bodySOC, Southampton, UK (Phil Weaver)
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralMediterranean Sea
SpecificWestern Mediterranean
Track chartsLe Suroit PROGRES cruise track — ls_progres_03roscop4615trk.pdf (0.36 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 2
Description: Bathysonde, vertical measurements of temperature and salinity. PGBathy01 and PGBathy02, see track chart for location.
Current profiler (eg ADCP)Quantity: track kilometres = 9114
Description: ADCP 150 kHz, underway current measurements (velocity, direction).
Geology and geophysics 
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: track kilometres = 9114
Description: EM300 multibeam echosoundings, water depth measurements, continuous recording at a speed of 8 knots. Data processing through Caraïbes software (ifremer), production of a DTM. Profiles PG01 to PG62, see track chart for location.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: survey square kilometres = 13377
Description: Southern area: 1/2 coverage
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: survey square kilometres = 23205
Description: Northern area: complete coverage
Long/short range side scan sonarQuantity: track kilometres = 9114
Description: EM300 multibeam echosoundings, seafloor reflectivity, continuous recording at a speed of 8 knots. Data processing through Caraïbes software (ifremer), production of a DTM. Profiles PG01 to PG62, see track chart for location.
Single channel seismic reflectionQuantity: track kilometres = 9108
Description: CHIRP, very high resolution seismic profiles, underway recording at a speed of 8 knots. Frequency of equipment : 1.5-5.8 kHz. Profiles PGCH01 to PGCH62, see track chart for location.
Multichannel seismic reflectionQuantity: track kilometres = 8872
Description: 6-channel seismic profiles. Streamer AMG, source: 2 mini-GI guns (35/35 ci, frequency: 120 Hz). Acquisition through "Delph" software (ifremer). Underway recording, at a speed of 8 knots Seismic processing (stacking, filtering, gain) through Sisbise software (ifremer). Profiles PGS02 to PGS61, see track chart for location.