Scheduled Cruises in 2004

Summary of a cruise on margins research (UK.042)

Location and cruise identifier :    Agadir Basin, Morocco, NW Africa ; SME21 & SME33

Research ship :   Charles Darwin

Sails :   26th October 2004 from ; Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Docks :   19th November 2004 to ; Madeira, PORTUGAL

Duration :   26 Days

Principal Scientist/Investigator :   Russell Wynn

Laboratory :   Southampton Oceanography Centre  (SOC)

Other investigators :   Dr Bryan Cronin

E-mail contact for further information :   

Website :   classroom@sea.   See also the UK-TAPS Group website - here

    Fig - The Agadir Basin,  off Morocco,  NW Africa.

Scientific objectives :    The main aim of the cruise is to take sediment samples (cores) from the deep Agadir Canyon and Basin. The water is over 4 km deep in this region, and the work area is several hundred kilometres from the Moroccan coast to the east and the volcanic Canary Islands to the south. However, earlier investigations in this areas have shown that the seafloor sediments contain Moroccan beach sands, volcanic lava fragments from Tenerife, and even pieces of wood!

     This material was transported down to the deep sea by giant underwater avalanches (composed of a turbulent mixture of water, sand and mud), that originate as landslides in shallower water close to land. These underwater avalanches then travel downslope at high speed through canyons and channels until they reach the flat basin floor. Most of their sand and mud is then dumped, smothering huge areas of seafloor and destroying all life. By studying the deposits left behind by these catastrophic events, scientists can work out where they come from, how often they occur, and whether they are capable of generating potentially damaging tidal waves that could effect coastal towns and villages in the region. They can also see how quickly deep-sea organisms can re-colonise the seafloor after being exterminated.