Resources

RRS Charles Darwin CD108

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Charles Darwin (74AB)
Cruise identifierCD108
Cruise period1997-09-14 — 1997-10-16
StatusCompleted
Port of departureSouthampton, United Kingdom
Port of returnLisbon, Portugal
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTobi and Multibeam surveys to examine the overall contribution of large-scale submarine landsliding to the evolution of the Canary Islands. The major aims of the proposed study were:

1) To use swath bathymetry and high-resolution seismic profiling to produce a comprehensive assessment of the effects of catastrophic landslides on the flanks of the Canary Islands.

2) To use Tobi high-resolution sidescan sonar to look in detail at selected areas of landslides to obtain further insights into landsliding processes.

3) To examine the frequency of landslides, their possible triggering mechanism, the geological processes involved in landsliding, the volumes of material involved, and possible relationships to external influences (e.g. sealevel).

4) To determine the wider influence of landslides in the subsidence and uplift history of the Canary Islands and volcanic islands in general.
Chief scientistDouglas G Masson (Southampton Oceanography Centre)
Cruise reportRRS Charles Darwin CD108 cruise report cd108.pdf (1.45 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificCanary Islands (Tenerife, La Parma & El Heirro)
Track chartsRRS Charles Darwin CD108 cruise track — cd108track.pdf (0.10 MB) 
Measurements 
Geology and geophysics 
DredgeQuantity: number of hauls = 3
Description: 3 dredges took place. All 3 were unfinished due to problems with the dredging.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Multibeam survey took place NNE of Teneriffe.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Multibeam survey took place around El Hierro.
Multi-beam echosoundingQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: Multibeam survey of El Julan flank.
Long/short range side scan sonarQuantity: number of surveys = 1
Description: TOBI survey at the Saharan Dabris Flow.