Shrnutí

Popis

Two oil-filled hydrophone arrays (a primary and a backup) were available to augment the visual survey effort during this cruise. The primary array included the modular array system, which consists of a two-element inline array and a two-element end array separated by a 30 m length of cable to gain a longer distance between individual hydrophones for more accurate localization. Each piece of the system can be disconnected via underwater connectors (MHDM-26-CCR, Teledyne Impulse). The backup array was only a four-element end array. The modular array system was towed at 300 m behind the ship during daylight hours to collect data on cetacean vocalizations and assist with the localization of target species. The array was deployed each morning prior to the start of visual observations and normally retrieved each evening after search effort ended (and whenever increased maneuverability of the ship was required).