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Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico

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Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Study MMS 2003-069 Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Annual Report: Year 1 U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS Study MMS 2003-069 Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico Annual Report: Year 1 Editors Ann E. Jochens Douglas C. Biggs Prepared under MMS Contract 1435-01-02-CA-85186 by Texas A&M University Department of Oceanography College Station, Texas 77843-3146 Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service New Orleans Gulf of Mexico OCS Region December 2003 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared under contract between the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the Texas A&M Research Foundation. This report has been technically reviewed by the MMS, and it has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the MMS, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. It is, however, exempt from review and compliance with the MMS editorial standards. REPORT AVAILABILITY Extra copies of the report may be obtained from the Public Information Office (Mail Stop 5034) at the following address: U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Public Information Office (MS 5034) 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 Telephone: (504) 736-2519 or 1-800-200-GULF CITATION Suggested citation: Jochens, A.E. and D.C. Biggs, editors. 2003. Sperm whale seismic study in the Gulf of Mexico; Annual Report: Year 1. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study MMS 2003-069. 139 pp. ABOUT THE COVER The cover art shows a sperm whale beginning a dive in Mississippi Canyon Block 127 in the northern Gulf of Mexico (photo by Christoph Richter). iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report would not have been possible without the contributions of a large number of people. Each principal investigator (PI) of the Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) contributed ideas to and authorship of portions of the text, many participated in the cruises and in data reduction and processing. The principal investigators, their affiliations, and their tasks are: Ann E. Jochens TAMU Program Manager, Co-PI for habitat characterization Douglas C. Biggs TAMU Project Scientist, PI for habitat characterization Dan Engelhaupt UDurham PI for genetic analyses Jonathan Gordon Ecologic PI for Photo I.D. and S-tag acoustics Matthew K. Howard TAMU Data Manager Nathalie Jaquet TAMUG Co-PI for Photo I.D. Mark Johnson WHOI Co-PI for D-tag study Robert L. Leben CU Co-PI for habitat characterization Bruce Mate OSU PI for S-tag whale tagging and tracking Patrick Miller WHOI Co-PI for D-tag study Peter Tyack WHOI PI for D-tag study Bernd Würsig TAMUG Co-PI for Photo I.D. Additionally, Dr. Aaron Thode of SIO, Dr. Steven F. DiMarco of TAMU, and Dr. Joel Ortega of OSU contributed to the authorship of this report, as well as to processing and analysis of data sets. We appreciate the contributions of Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Executive Director of the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing at the College of Marine Science of the University of South Florida, for providing ocean color images and ideas. To all who participated on the two legs of the SWSS cruise we extend our great appreciation for making the 2002 field program a great success. In particular, thanks to the S-tag cruise science team: Doug Biggs (TAMU College Station), Eddie Webb (TAMU College Station), Paul Clark (TAMU GERG), Bill Green (TAMU Galveston), Mike Fredericks (TAMU GERG), Bruce Mate (OSU Newport), Mary Lou Mate (OSU Newport), Ladd Irvine (OSU Newport), Daniel Palacios (OSU Newport), Nathalie Jaquet (TAMU Galveston), Joel Ortega (TAMU Galveston, now at OSU), Christoph Richter (Canada), Will Rayment (New Zealand), Jamie McKee (SAIC), Erin LaBrecque (New Hampshire), Larry Glickman (Oregon), Jonathan Gordon (Ecologic UK), Sarah Tsoflias (MMS New Orleans), Ricardo Antunes (Madeira, Portugal), Reuben Heule (Netherlands), Dan Lewer (OSU Newport), Jonathan Gordon (Ecologic UK), Nathalie Jaquet (TAMU Galveston), Dan Engelhaupt (Durham Univ UK), Alicia Salazar (TAMU College Station), and Terry Ketler Productions (San Francisco). Thanks to the D-tag science team on Gyre: Mark Johnson (WHOI), Peter Tyack (WHOI), Eddie Webb (TAMU College Station), Paul Clark (TAMU GERG), Bill Green (TAMU Galveston), Mike Fredericks (TAMU GERG), Mark Johnson (WHOI), Patrick Miller (WHOI), Alessandro Bocconcelli (UNCW), Nicoletta Biassoni (WHOI), Maria Elena Quero (WHOI), Dan Engelhaupt (Durham Univ. UK), Todd Pusser (North Carolina), Amy Beier (New Zealand), Irene Briga (Massachusetts), Mandana Mirhaj (Germany), Simon Childerhouse (DoC, New Zealand), Dee Allen (NMNH Smithsonian), Aaron Thode (SIO), Valeria Teloni (WHOI, Italy), Matt Grund (WHOI), Natacha Aguilar de Soto (Spain), Sarah Tsoflias (MMS New Orleans), Matthew Howard (TAMU College Station), and Laurie Sindlinger (TAMU College Station). Thanks to the D-tag science team on the Rylan T.: Cliff Smith (Fairfield Industries), Tony Edwards (Fairfield Industries), Neil Estay (Fairfield Industries), Tim Pinnington (Seamap Inc.), Craig Douglas (Seamap Inc.), Natacha Aguilar de Soto (Spain), Bill Lang (MMS New Orleans), Carol Roden (MMS New Orleans), and Sandy Sawyer (Fairfield Industries). v Finally, thanks to Joel Ortega and Dan Lewer for braving the winter waters off Louisiana in the S-tag follow-up cruises. Without the hard work of the ships' masters and crew, the science teams would not have been able to complete their tasks successfully and safely. So we extend sincere thanks to Captain Dana O. Dyer III and the crew of the R/V Gyre and to Captain Steve Bennett and the crew of the Rylan T. for jobs well done. The dedicated shore-based efforts of Desmond Rolf, Sandy Green, and Bill Green of the Gyre TAMU Marine Operations went above and beyond the call of duty and contributed to the success of the study. We also thank Dr. Norman Guinasso and Mr. R. J. Wilson of TAMU GERG for their assistance with preparing the ADCP and getting the MMS R2 tag boat delivered in time for the D-tag cruise, Dr. Ou Wang of TAMU for producing ADCP products, and Mr. Tomas Follett of OSU for facilitating delivery of S-tag whale location information to D-tag scientists during their cruise. The use of a seismic source vessel, which was crucial for conducting the D-tag controlled exposure experiment, would not have been possible without the contribution of the seismic source and vessel, Rylan T./Speculator by the International Association of Geophysical Contractors. SWSS scientists extend thanks to Chip Gill, Phil Fontana, and Jack Caldwell, as well as all members of IAGC, for their enthusiastic work in support of SWSS, and to Jim Thompson of Fairfield Industries for making the logistical arrangements for and supplying the seismic source vessel. We thank Tim Pinnigton and Craig Douglas of Seamap, Inc., for contributing both the Seamap hydrographic array for the seismic source vessel and their time as its operators during the D-tag cruise. The enthusiastic and timely support of Dr. William Lang, the MMS Project Officer, is greatly appreciated. We also greatly appreciate the cruise participation and thoughtful support of Sarah Tsoflias and Carol Roden of MMS. Thanks also to Dr. Robert Gisiner of ONR and Dr. Richard Myrick of NAVO for their contributions, both in support of tag development and in contribution of XBTs for use in field year 2002. Finally, any program as large and complex as this one needs the help of many in the administration of the project. We thank Phyllis Bonifazi and Martha Tackett of TAMRF, Stacie Arms of TAMUG, Carol Delancey of OSU, and Mary Jane Tucci of WHOI for their many efforts in support of SWSS. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ ix List of Tables.......................................................................................................................... xi Acronyms ............................................................................................................................... xiii 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Field Measurements........................................................................................ 2 1.3 Instruments and Data Methods....................................................................... 3 1.4 Technical Summary ........................................................................................ 4 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1 SWSS Background and Objectives ................................................................ 5 2.2 Program Participants and Activities................................................................. 6 2.3 Report Organization........................................................................................ 9 3. Data Collection Cruises .............................................................................................. 11 3.1 S-tag Leg of SWSS 2002............................................................................... 11 3.2
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