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Key Findings

A benthic habitat map between Pendennis head and Swanpool bay was created using the data gathered from our survey on the 21st June 2016.

The area was mainly homogenous soft sediment with a scattering of rocks. As well as this, between the second and the third boat tract there was an extensive area of coarser sediment, with clearly defined bedforms. The crests were clear of debris, and there was accumulation of biota as well as shell debris in the troughs of the bedforms.

Met data & Tidal State

Date: 21.06.16

Time Range. 14:00 BST - 17:50 BST

Co-ordinates: : E181983.9m;                       N31650.546m

Air Temperature: 15°c

Cloud Cover: 7/8

High Tide:07:18 BST

            19:31 BST

Low Tide: 01:27 BST

             13:44 BST

Introduction to Geophysics

In order to create a fully detailed habitat map of the area between Pendennis head and Swanpool bay, a series of both physical and biological data collection techniques were carried out on 22/06/16. For analysing the physical properties of the area, a Towfish capable of side-scan sonar was deployed along three transects each 2km long and the properties of the medium and substrata of the seafloor could then be identified from the backscatter print out. With two additional transects parallel to the initial and with 100m spacing from each other.

For analysing the biology of the area, an underwater camera was deployed to quantitatively sample and enable species identification of the benthic macro-organisms. In addition, to qualitatively sample the benthic macro-organisms, specifically the infauna, a Van Veen grab was deployed to obtain a sample that could then be analysed on the MTS Explorer. To analyse this sample, a sieving system was used to sort the varying sizes of particles and organisms.

• Find an area in the Fal Estuary to sample
• Create a sidescan sonar of seabed in sample area
• Take video transects and grab for sample sight along sidescan sonar transect
• Create a contour plot on surfer for habitat map
• Create a habitat map using sidescan sonar data
• Identify species in sample area from video transect and grab images

Aims and Objectives

On the left is a summary poster of the finding of the geophysical lab analysis completed on the data collected whilst on MTS Explorer, if you would like to view, or download the poster please click on the image.