Call for Participation – PacificArray OBS Deployment Cruise (Nov-Dec 2019)
We are soliciting apply-to-sail participants for an ocean-bottom seismograph (OBS) deployment in the south-central Pacific ocean. This experiment, on board the RV Kilo Moana, is part of the international PacificArray initiative to install OBS arrays across the Pacific plate. Sailing in and out of Tahiti, we will deploy 30 broadband OBS in a region of the Pacific approximately 2000 km S of Tahiti and 2500 km E of New Zealand. This deployment pushes the boundaries of seismological exploration: there is no other seismic station for 1500 km in any direction! This area is also notable for unexplained gravity lineations that hint at small-scale sub-lithospheric convection. More information about this project can be found online: (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1658491&HistoricalAwards=false).
Science party responsibilities will include rotating 8-hour watches to assist in deployment of the 30 OBS, collect and archive multi-beam bathymetry and side-scan data, as well as crewing on board oceanographic instrumentation. Cruise activities will include reading and discussion of papers pertinent to the science goals of the experiment. The project blog from previous cruises of this experiment provides a perspective on these activities: (https://pacificorca.wordpress.com/)
Selected applicants will contribute to collecting the open-access data that will be provided to the scientific community for use in addressing a wide spectrum of Earth Science research targets, from marine geophysics to global seismology. Applications from students, underrepresented minority scientists, and early-career scientists are particularly encouraged. Applicants do not need to have experience with marine data collection; a goal of these field campaigns is to provide opportunities for scientists to gain familiarity with a variety of data-collection techniques. Funds for travel to/from port (Pape’ete, Tahiti, French Polynesia) will be provided for US-based researchers.
To apply, please assemble an application package (2-page CV and 1-page statement of interest and experience) and submit it electronically to Zachary Eilon (eilon@ucsb.edu) no later than September 15, 2019. Applications from graduate students and post-docs require a letter of support from the graduate advisor or supervisor. Ship schedules are subject to unexpected change, but we plan to return in good time to allow attendance at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting.
Please feel free to forward this advert to any interested parties.
Regards,
Zach Eilon