Mission PLATMAR2 - 2018

From 23 August to 12 September 2018, an oceanographic mission took place to the island of Santa Maria and island of Ants, under the PTDC/GEO-GEO/0051/2014 PLATMAR project, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology.

This mission was carried out on board the Archipelago Research Ship of the University of the Azores (project partner) and led by Assistant Investigator Rui Quartau of the Hydrographic Institute, with the following objectives:

1) sampling of sediments on the Santa Maria Island and Ant Bank platform in predetermined locations using a Smith-McIntyre type harvester;

2) Undersea filming using a “drop-down camera” for mapping underwater habitats;

3) installation of a permanent GPS/GNSS station in the Ants Island lighthouse;

4) Geological cartography and sampling for geochemistry of Ant Ilhéus;

5) Aerophotogrammetric survey of ultra-high resolution of Ants Ilhéus, with the aid of an Unmanned Air Vehicle (drone).

The mission was a success with the collection of 169 sediment samples, 18 mini-colors and 70 filming videos on the Santa Maria Island platform and ant bank. We also collected 15 kilos of rock samples for dating and geochemistry of Ant Islanders.