The Endeavour Segment GIS Pages

Endeavour Segment GIS Project
Data Available


Segment Scale: Swath Bathymetry | Side-Scan Sonar | Fixed Transponders | Magnetics | Water Column CTD

Vent Field Scale: About Navigation | Mesotech Bathymetry | Still Imagery | Video Imagery | Geological Maps | Submersible Vehicle Dive Tracks | Samples | Fluid Chemistry | Markers


Segment Scale

Swath Bathymetry

A major source of ridge crest bathymetric data is LDEO's RIDGE Multibeam Synthesis Project. The Endeavour Observatory is located in their "Area 12".

NetCDF Format Grid | Data Source and Processing of Grid

The original data for the RIDGE Multibeam Synthesis Project Area 12 Grid was collected by NOAA/ORD/ERL/PMEL investigators from the NOAA ships Surveyor and Discoverer. These data can be obtained from their web site.

In 1996, Deborah Kelley, University of Washington, conducted a survey of the Endeavour Observatory area using the Krupp-Atlas Hydrosweep System on the RV Thomas G. Thompson. These data are available here:

GMT (NetCDF) Format Grid | ArcInfo Grid(.gz) | ArcInfo Grid(.zip) | ArcInfo Contour Coverage(.gz) | ArcInfo Contour Coverage(.zip) | Metadata

Fixed Transponders

The fixed NSF transponders were deployed first. However, transponder "J" initially had a reply frequency of 14.5 kHz which was not heard by Alvin while in the MEF. After this discovery, the decision was made to pull this transponder (Dive 2930) and change it's reply frequency to a lower one (11.0). At this point, due to the success of navigating with the 7.5/8.5 combination when in the northern part of the MEF and throughout all of High Rise, we decided to put "J" on the western wall, so that we might work both fields using the two permanent transponders. Unfortunately, the redeployement left "J" further south than would be optimal, although it is well heard in the MEF, as well as at Clam Bed. Since there was another 11.0 replying transponder when we next(and last) dove at High Rise, it is unclear how well we can hear "J" there. Getting data on this problem should be an important goal of the next leg, in the framework of a well functioning, well calibrated transponder network for the Observatory.
Permanent NSF Transponders
LABEL FRQ DEPLOYED X Y Z
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I 7.5 5/26/95 129:04.9513W 47:57.7551N 1995.0
J 11.0 5/26/95 129:05.9041W 47:57.2232N 1997.5
E00 file, projected to UTM Zone 9, .gz format: Fixed Transponders

E00 file, projected to UTM Zone 9, .zip format: Fixed Transponders

Vent Field Scale

About Navigation

Most data collected at the vent field scale in the Endeavour area have been referenced to the UW local ALVIN grid. As navigational precision (through use of "in-hull" data) and accuracy (by referencing to p-code GPS) has improved, there have been problems with registration of features within the vent field. All data collected here have been adjusted using the best location for the origin of the UW local ALVIN grid as 47°53.634'N 129°09.871W. Details

Vent Field Geological Maps

Geological maps showing active and inactive sulfide structures, black smokers, faults and fissures, talus and tube worm fields have been compiled by Veronique Robigou, University of Washington. Editions of these have been published in Delaney et al., REF, and Robigou et al., REF. The 1995 updates of these maps were digitized and converted to GMT multi-segment format, i.e., each segment is separated by a line which contains by default the character ">" in the first this separator. Subsequently these sets of points and polygon outlines were converted to ARC/Info format.

Mapped features include:

Classification                                  Type    Data Structure
Sulfide Structure (Active)                      0       polygon
Sulfide Structure (Inactive)                    1       polygon
Inactive Sulfide Spire                          2       point
Active Black Smoker                             3       point
Sulfide Talus & Hydrothermal Sediment           4       polygon
Talus                                           5       polygon
Tubeworm Colony                                 6       polygon
Fissure                                         7       line 
Fault                                           8       line 
Horst Boundary                                  9       polygon
Basalt Plume                                    B       polygon
Flotation Marker                                F       point

E00 files, UTM Zone 9, tar.gz format: Main Endeavour Field | Metadata MEF | High Rise | Metadata HRF

E00 files, UTM Zone 9, .zip format: Main Endeavour Field | Metadata MEF | High Rise | Metadata HRF

GMT segment files, tar.gz format: Main Endeavour Field | High Rise | Example of GMT Commands to Draw Geological Map

Submersible Dive Tracks

VehicleYearInvestigatorsData
ALVIN1984Delaney/Johnsonpoor quality navigation exists for dives in vicinity of Hulk, Grotto, and Lobo
ALVIN1988Delaney/McDuff/Schultz/Baross/Lilley 
ALVIN1991Delaney/McDuff/LilleyData Files
Jason1991Delaney/McDuff 
ALVIN1995Delaney/McDuff/LilleyData Files | Additional Cruise Information
ROPOS1996Juniper/Fisher 
Jason1997Delaney/Fisherdata not yet released publically
ALVIN1997Delaney/Fisherdata not yet released publically
ROPOS1998Delaney/Kelleydata not yet released publically

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The Endeavour Segment GIS Pages are copyright (©) 1997-2000 University of Washington. The data are public domain; users of the data should acknowledge the original source of any data set used.

Send comments to endgis@ocean.washington.edu; Content Last Modified 3/15/2000