Multi-disciplinary pilot study of the Kurkar ridges off Northern Israel
Bustan HaGalil

May 24-25, 2009

On May 24-25, 2009 a group of 25 scientists and students from 7 Israeli institutions conducted a unique pilot study offshore the northern Galilee. This study focused on Geological, Geophysical, Geochemical and Biological data collection around the Bustan Hagalil kurkar ridge that was recently mapped with multibeam sonar during the National Bathymetric Survey of Israel (NBS). This pioneering 36 hour study was led by Dr. Gideon Tibor and funded by a private grant to IOLR to investigate further the findings of the NBS. It was conducted on 3 research vessels working simultaneously: R/V Etziona, R/V Shikmona and R/V MedExplorer.

Geophysics - R/V Etziona & R/V Shikmona

Continuous data collection using: Seismic sparker system; Magnetometer; Side-scan sonar; Multibeam and a stand-alone hydrophone.

Geology and Geochemistry - R/V Shikmona

Samples were collected from 5 to 50m water depths using CTD, sediments by Box-, Piston-corer and Grab sampler, Rocks by special tube device, Sub-bottom geophysics by Chirp and mooring of hydrophons. Parameters measured included: Water: CTD profiles, including pressure, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence and beam attenuation (transmissometer), Nutrients (phosphate, silicic acid, nitrite+nitrate, DOP?), Carbon species, Radon and Radium. Sediment grain-size, carbonates, major and trace chemistry, TOC, ²¹⁰Pb, Forams, Macrofauna and X-ray measurements. Major ions measurements in interstitial water, sulphide, sulphate isotopes, alkalinity, DIC and methane. Rocks samples included authigenic precipitates and forams for HM. Sub-bottom profiles using Chirp and Hydrophons.

Biology & Geology - R/V MedExplorer

The study included observation with SeaBotix ROV as well as in situ sampling and measurements by divers during deep and shallow water diving.

Institutions involved:

• Charney school for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa
• Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research
• Geological Survey of Israel
• Bar Ilan University
• Ben Gurion University
• Interuniversity Institute, IUI, Eilat
• Tel Aviv University
• EcoOcean organisation