Daily Blog from the Multi-National Team on TRASNA Survey
A multi-national team of European, Canadian, and American ocean mapping experts will launch the 4th Trans-Atlantic mapping survey under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance. These surveys support the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, the goals of which are to join resources of its three signatories to better understand the North Atlantic Ocean, to promote sustainable management of its resources, and to promote citizens’ understanding of the Atlantic through ocean literacy.
The expedition, which will take place from May 11-21, 2016 on board the Irish research vessel, RV Celtic Explorer, will map the seafloor between St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and Galway, Ireland. The Science Team led by Xavier Monteys, of the Geological Survey of Ireland will be collecting multibeam bathymetry, geophysical and oceanographic data along with bottom samples to better characterize little known areas of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Graduate and post-doctoral students representing Europe, Canada and the United States and sailing on board on board the R/V Celtic Explorer are writing daily web logs to chronical the mission. Follow along here to read about updates and reflections on their experiences, the science, technology, and other elements of the expedition as we continue to celebrate OUR SHARED ATLANTIC RESOURCE.
Multibeam Mapping Education Resources:
The following links are provided for educators interested in learning more about seafloor mapping and bringing lessons about this exciting technology into their classrooms.
Wet Maps
Mapping the Deep Ocean Floor
Watching in 3-D
NE US Canyons Expedition 2013: Mytilus Seamount
NE US Canyons Expedition 2013: Cold Seeps
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TRANSA Completed 24 May 2021 TRANSA concluded on the 21st of May with the Celtic Explorer arriving in Galway. Read some of the highlights of the TRASNA voyage.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 10 23 May 2021 Unrelated to seafloor mapping or seabird and mammal surveys, another scientist on board is helping a colleague who remained on land with his research. James Barry, representing the Geologic Survey of Ireland, is working on testing a colleagues’ prototype while on board the Explorer.
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TRASNA Blog - Day 9 20 May 2021 As a wildlife conservationist I have had the privilege to work with a wide range of animal groups across a myriad of environments ranging from the high arid mountains of the South Sinai to the tropical islands of Cape Verde off West Africa.
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Clare FM Radio TRASNA Interview 20 May 2021 Xavier Monteys and Jamie Maxwell were interviewed about TRASNA and their work on the Celtic Explorer today on Clare FM radio. The whole interview is available for download and streaming!
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TRASNA Blog – Day 8 20 May 2021 The weather was beautiful today, I believe it was the nicest day we had on the trip so far. Our plans for today were to conduct a CTD test which stands for conductivity, temperature and depth but also can be used to test numerous other water characteristics.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 7 19 May 2021 Hello folks and welcome to today’s blog post. My name is William Hunt and I’m the resident marine mammal observer (MMO for short) aboard the RV Celtic Explorer during the transatlantic crossing. I work for the University College, Cork at the MaREI Centre for Marine & Renewable Energy on a project aiming to collate existing data on the distribution and abundance of cetaceans in Irish shelf waters.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 6 18 May 2021 Late last night we were able to deploy our underwater camera system. We decided to film at an area in our data with high relief using a camera system attached to a large metal cage with rounded “feet” that move easily across the seabed.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 5 17 May 2021 We reached the Mid-Atlantic Ridge early this morning. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a diverging contact area between the Eurasian plate and the north American plate boundaries. These areas are believed to be associated with magmatism formed by the pulling apart of the two plates.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 4 16 May 2021 In keeping with the spirit of this expedition – to learn as much about our oceans as possible – several scientists on board the R/V Celtic Explorer have given or plan to give a short lecture in their area of study or expertise.
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TRASNA Blog – Day 3 15 May 2021 After the intensity of yesterday’s hurricane force seas, today was a much needed calmer day. The conditions were, in fact, so bad yesterday that we were unable to collect data for much of the day. Now, we are back to collecting the data we came here for!
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TRASNA Blog – Day 2 14 May 2021 We started today by conducting a XBT or (Expendable Bathythermograph test) this is a single use test that can be preformed while the boat is still moving. The test consists of shooting a torpedo into the water that will read temperature and depth as it sinks to the sea floor.
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TRASNA's Passage Plan 13 May 2021 The plan is to follow a similar route than the 2015 transect. The weather forecast looks reasonably good for the next 10 days with localised high sea conditions expected for short periods of time.
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TRASNA Blog - Day 1 13 May 2021 The R/V Celtic Explorer began its voyage deemed TRASNA, Trans-Atlantic Survey North-Atlantic, across the Atlantic from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Galway, Ireland last night, May 11, around 20:00 local time under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance.
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The TRASNA Team 12 May 2021 The R.V. Celtic Explorer set sail last night (8pm Newfoundland/11:30pm Ireland) from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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