The investigation of the submarine Northern San Andreas has so far been very remote. Fundamental unknowns, such as the repeat time of great earthquakes and the patterns in which they occur, remain unanswered because we rarely have a long enough earthquake record. In the case of the NSAF, this is in part because much of the fault is underwater. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/welcome.html http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_100.jpg http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/welcome.html ____________________________________________________________________________ During this exploration, we completed the first comprehensive high-resolution multibeam sonar and seismic reflection survey of the NSAF. Data from these two complementary geophysical surveys will provide an unprecedented 3D visualization of the fault system. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/summary/summary.html ____________________________________________________________________________ The scientists involved in exploring the Northern San Andreas Fault are using a variety of sonic and optical imaging systems to visualize geology, geohabitats, and biological communities associated with the fault. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept29/sept29.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Even though the AUV is working autonomously, sometimes we want to communicate with it in order to follow its progress in accomplishing its dive plan and in some cases to ask to change its mission during a dive. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept27/sept27.html ____________________________________________________________________________ We’re now collecting about 50 “seismic-reflection” profiles across the Northern San Andreas Fault to image the subsurface structure of the fault zone. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept25/sept25.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Living on a sailboat for anywhere from 2 to 6 days between port calls is an experiment and experience in itself. There is minimal privacy as most bunks double as workstations during the day, and the crew and scientists who work the night watches occupy the cabins. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept23/sept23.html ____________________________________________________________________________ By using sonar, we are able to both determine the depth of the seafloor and obtain information about what type of sediments or hard bottoms are below. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept21/sept21.html ____________________________________________________________________________ With clear skies and winds from the northwest, today we were finally able to turn off the engines and run multibeam survey lines by sail. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept20/sept20.html ____________________________________________________________________________ There is a very small window for conducting research cruises off the Northern California coast. Even in the weather window, the seas can be unpredictable. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept18/sept18.html ____________________________________________________________________________ The first leg of this expedition has been dedicated to mapping the San Andreas Fault and surrounding seafloor via multi-beam sonar. By running a consistent survey and processing the multibeam data onsite, the research team is able to visualize where the San Andreas Fault is running under the sea and the surrounding seafloor terrain. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept17/sept17.html ____________________________________________________________________________ We're finally off on our multibeam survey of the northern San Andreas. After a flurry of activity with mobilization, measuring the boat in, patch tests and so on, we're now surveying and getting into our routine. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/sept14/sept14.html ____________________________________________________________________________ We will be exploring the Northern San Andreas Fault at scales from kilometers to millimeters, extending in time from the beginning of the Holocene, through the present and into the future. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/plan/plan.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Ocean Explorer Expedition Education Modules (EEM) are designed to reach out in new ways to teachers, students, and the general public, and share the excitement of daily at-sea discoveries and the science behind NOAA’s major ocean exploration initiatives with people around the world. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/edu/edu.html ____________________________________________________________________________ One unique aspect of the San Andreas Fault 2010 expedition is that all ship-borne operations will be conducted from the Derek M. Baylis (DMB), a state-of-the-art vessel designed as a prototype for the 'green' research vessels of the future. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/green/green.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are unmanned, untethered vehicles used to conduct underwater research. As opposed to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are tethered to a service vessel by an umbilical, AUVs are independent. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/auv/auv.html ____________________________________________________________________________ View photos and and short bios of the explorers participating on the <i> San Andreas Fault 2010 </i> exploration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/explorers/explorers.html ____________________________________________________________________________ For more information about the exploration check out the Information page! http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/background/info/info.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Visit an archive of videos, podcasts, and photos taken during this exploration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/10sanandreas/logs/photolog/photolog.html ____________________________________________________________________________