NSF GEOPATHS

The research has four primary objectives/goals: A) to investigate the factors that affect near-offshore marine sedimentation in the geographically unique, tectonically-active southern California continental margin (California Continental Borderland); B) to understand the biological and ecological relationships between modern benthic foraminifera and their environment (particularly with respect to dissolved oxygen) in order to develop a better modern analog to use fossil foraminifera to assess past climate change; C) to continue an decadal time series of sea-floor sedimentation and microfossils, and D) to recruit and retain students in marine geosciences, in part, by giving students and teachers hands-on experiences at sea and research opportunities. We will have both experienced and inexperienced students on board, and will be training them, and exposing students and teachers to research techniques, life at sea, and potential career paths. The sampling objectives of the cruise include obtaining seafloor geologic samples (multicores, grabs and gravity cores) across a bottom water oxygen gradient, obtaining plankton samples (plankton tow) and water samples and hydrographic properties (CTD). We have sampled in this area previously (2000-2012 and 2018, 2019 and 2021) and will revisit some sites and may target additional sites. Our educational/outreach objectives be accomplished through student participation and collecting samples and data that will be integrated in courses and used in research conducted by diverse students mentored by scientists and educators from three collaborative institutions (California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), the University of San Diego (USD), and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)).