The scientific experiment that will take place aboard the RRS James Cook, under a barter agreement between the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas between 17th February and 19th March 2014 is located between the Rivera Plate and the Jalisco Block, West Pacific coast of Mexico at the following coordinates 18 ° 00'N-22 ° 30'N, 103 ° 30'W-107 ° 30'W.
The cruise aims to conduct a detailed marine geophysical study using seismic refraction and reflection methods, along with multibeam mapping and gravity records.
The project aims to determine the lithospheric structure from the seabed into the upper mantle, and identify the sources which can trigger earthquakes and tsunamis on the West coast of Mexico.
The project also seeks to evaluate the potential energy resources of the methane that may exist in the BSR reflectors detected along the continental shelf and slope, using the MCS data recorded during the Spanish CORTES project (1996).
4 February 2014