Multibeam Mapping of the Pinnacles Region, Gulf of Mexico

Authors

James V. Gardner, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
Kenneth J. Sulak, USGSFollow

Abstract

Recent USGS mapping shows an extensive deep (~100 m) reef tract occurs on the Mississippi-Alabama outer continental shelf (Figure 1). The tract, known as "The Pinnacles", is apparently part of a sequence of drowned reef complexes along the "40-fathom" shelf edge of the northern Gulf of Mexico (Ludwick and Walton, 1957). It is critical to determine the accurate geomorphology of these deep-reefs because of their importance as benthic habitats for fisheries. The Pinnacles have previously been mapped using a single-beam echo sounder (Ludwick and Walton,1957), sidescan sonar (Laswell et al., 1990), and the TAMU² towed single-beam sidescan-sonar system (Anonymous, 1999). These existing studies do not provide the quality of geomorphic data necessary for reasonable habitat studies.

Department

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Publication Date

2002

Publisher

U.S. Geological Survey

Document Type

Report

Recommended Citation

Gardner, James V. and Sulak, Kenneth J., "Multibeam Mapping of the Pinnacles Region, Gulf of Mexico" (2002). Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. 1172.
https://scholars.unh.edu/ccom/1172