UNOLS Marcus Langseth Science Oversight Committee (MLSOC)
Moscone Convention Center, Room 220, San Francisco, CA

Howard Street, Between Third & Fifth Sts.
San Francisco, California, USA

Sunday, December 13, 2009 - Time: 2:00-5:00 PM

A pdf of these minutes is available: 200912mlsmi.pdf

Draft Meeting Minutes- as of 9/5/2010

Executive Summary-

The Marcus Langseth Science Oversight Committee, (MLSOC) met on Sunday Dec 13, 2009 prior to the start of the annual AGU Conference.  This was the winter meeting of the MLSOC committee.

Action Items

1. MLSOC input to prioritize list of proposed instrumentation and upgrades

2. Need quarterly reports from LDEO to MLSOC on operational status of Langseth.

3. Review of all PI’s which have been scheduled since the Ewing

4. Set up a wiki site for online discussion forum prior to workshop- This was done.

Appendices

Minutes

Steve Holbrook/University of Wyoming and MLSOC Chair called the meeting to order at 2 pm. Introductions were made around the room. A quorum of MLSOC members were present.

Agency Reports

Jim Holik-NSF/OCE Program Director reported that NSF is still operating under a continuing resolution.  It is predicted that 2011 will be an austere operating year, unlike 2009-2010 which received significant ARRA funds.  Jim gave a power point presentation, App. III.

Debbie Smith- NSF/OCE Program Director stated that she is handling the MLSOC Workshop Proposal submitted by Steve Holbrook and Graham Kent.  The reviews have been good to very good and it will be recommended for funding for approximately 80 participants.   In regards to operations, we must bring down the cost of operations.  

Rick Carlson-NSF/OCE Program Director listed several issue of concern. The cost of the R/V Marcus Langseth is comparable to R/V Joides Resolution, scheduling is problematic, can’t afford to fund PI’s as small groups, and there is a need for a new mechanism to review proposals.

UNOLS Report-

Jon Alberts-UNOLS provided an update on the UNOLS office staff and a brief report on the activities of the UNOLS standing committees. See App. IV.

LDEO Operator Report-

Paul Ljunggren/LDEO provided an extensive slide presentation, (See App.V) with

details on the 2009 operating year, maintenance planned, and highlights from cruises.

This included science operations and excerpts from post cruise reports. A few challenges

involved issues with Taiwan territorial claims, marine mammals and fishing vessels  

snagging  arrays. In late 2009 the ship began an extensive maintenance period followed

by a dry-docking in early 2010 in Portland, Oregon.  Paul provided a detailed list of

projects and timelines for these. The 2010 schedule was reviewed covering the three

science legs planned. The 2010 proposed Instrumentation and SSSE proposal were

discussed and input from MLSOC was requested.

The Langseth lost a 30 day Extended Continental Shelf cruise in 2009 due to issues with the multibeam.  Kongsberg is working to resolve this issue. The first internal tests showed failures which were thought to be software issues.  There were questions as to why upgrade was accepted and paid for when it wasn’t working. This will cause concern for future DOS cruises. This cancelled cruise also resulted in 1.3 million in funds which  had to be de-obligated.

Other Project included:

• Upgrades to main computers as SUN architecture no longer supported, approx 30 K.

• MSC streamer re-terminations, approx 90 K

• Used Streamer- LDEO is working with Schlumberger on a used streamer. Getting positive responses that it will happen however it will need repairs and a vendor has been found.

• Oceanographic Winches- LDEO is developing a plan with Glosten to replace winches. There will be a pre-planning meeting in January.  There may be winches in the fleet which can be used.

• Equipment- Some equipment was cross-decked from the Ewing. For example, the  Hiab crane. The future make-up of the UNOLS fleet once the new Ocean class ships join the fleet will help the decision process regarding further outfitting of the Langseth.

• Al Walsh reported on the EM 122 Multibeam problems encountered. Konsberg will replace 30 of the 48 arrays

MLSOC Report

Steve Holbrook/Univ. of Wyoming provided a presentation on the Seismic Workshop which will be held on March 21-24, 2010 in Incline Village, Nevada.

The March workshop is currently planned for 80 people and has been recommended for funding.  The UNOLS office will work with MLSOC to post announcement on web site. Steve then ran through agenda for workshop asking groups for input on agenda items.

One outcome of the workshop will be a brochure and there was discussion on how it will be developed.  A steering committee will develop this as a product of the workshop and it will highlight the: “Marcus Langseth Greatest Hits”

The discussion then turned to an open forum for sharing ideas as to how to improve the program.

• Despite challenges, we have had a successful two years with nine successful cruises.

• Comment that drilling wasn’t on Workshop agenda and the need to highlight synergy between the seismic program and the drilling program.

• Comment that NSF can’t be the only funding agency, perhaps non-US funding is something top look at.

• We need mentors to help new principal investigators in the proposal process and to assist in writing viable proposals.

• Need a process in place to process data available in a reasonable amount of time.

• We need the international group to get involved, perhaps a ship swap program, but NSF has a balance of credits now.

• Need people in the community who can take this program and turn complex science programs into understandable and useful products.

• Should divide into ocean regions

• Identify science bunks on Langseth that could be used on 2010 cruises

• Broaden funding source will help broaden distribution of data.

• Have to look at marine seismic as a shared community effort that is forward looking.

• Benefit to society must be addressed.

• Process Facility- do we start a new facility or hire commercial processing facility.

• Making the data available as rapidly as possible is key.

Executive Session

Steve Holbrook announced that he can no longer serve as chair of MLSOC but will stay on committee. Graham Kent offered to be the Acting Chair for a year, then rotate off. The MLSOC agreed this was a good plan.

Steering Committee for Workshop needs to be formed.

Graham Kent, Steve Holbrook, Donna Shillington, Michael Enachescu and Dale Sawyer

volunteered to serve on this.

Next Meeting- to be scheduled in summer of 2010.

Meeting Adjourned: 5 pm