1 The major objectives of the experiment were as follows: 



2 . To describe the currents in Lydonia Canyon and on the adjacent 



3 shelf and slope. We concentrated primarily on the canyon in depths 



4 deeper than--shal lower than about 1,500 meters. 



5 To determine the importance of canyons in transporting sediments 



6 on to or off of the shelf. 



7 To try to determine if the canyons are sinks for fine-grained 



8 sediments. 



9 Finally, to compare at least two of the canyons on the southern 



10 flank of Georges Bank, Lydonia and Oceanographer. 



11 There were several components to the canyon experiment. We had a 



12 major moored-array experiment in which we measured currents and sediment 



13 transport in a number of locations. We conducted hydrographic surveys 



14 to look at the temperature, salinity, and suspended sediment 



15 distribution. 



16 We looked at the sediment texture and accumulation rates, rates of 



17 accumulation in different parts of the canyon, and we conducted some 



18 extensive surveys of the bottom topography and the microtophy [word 



19 unclear], using the submersible Alvin. Clearly in the 20 minutes that I 



20 have, I can only touch on a few highlights. 



21 There is a major report which we prepared for MMS which describes 



22 the experiment in more detail. 



23 First I'd like to briefly show the sediment texture on the 



24 adjacent shelf. This shows the percent silt-plus-clay and the surficial 



25 sediments in the region of both Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons. 



26 The regional trend is from little silt-plus-clay in the crest of 



27 Georges Bank, where the currents are very strong, to greater than 75 



28 percent silt-plus-clay on the deeper continental slope. 



29 So, using the texture as sort of a marker of depositional versus 



30 erosional environments. We see non-depositional to heavily depositional 



31 on the middle part of the slope. I haven't contoured here the texture 



32 within the canyons, that's more complex and I'll show you that in a 



33 minute. 



20 



