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Just as Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs) performed by astronauts or rocket launches themselves are exciting events of frontier exploration to witness in real-time, such events are rarely promoted as heavily for deep ocean exploration. In recent years, however, telepresence capabilities have influenced oceanographic research to provide scientists, educators, students (and the world) live images and real-time data from ships at sea…
(Above) A telepresence-enabled platform, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer uses satellite technology to transmit data and video in real-time from the ship and ROVs working at depth, to a shore-based hub where the video is transmitted in high definition out on Internet2 to a variety of receiving stations on shore include a number of Exploration Command Centers located around the country. The University of Rhode Island’s Inner Space Center receives the high definition Internet 2 video feed and makes a lower resolution version available via standard internet. Access to the video and a suite of internet-based collaboration and communication tools allows scientists located on shore to join the operation in real-time. Credit: NOAA/Okeanos Explorer Program
Operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through their Ocean Exploration Center in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island (URI), a deep sea expedition is currently being performed right now. From July 10 to September 30, 2015, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will be exploring unknown ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago and offshore Johnston Atoll as part of the Hohonu Moana: Exploring the Deep Waters off Hawai’i expedition. Throughout four distinct cruise legs, NOAA (et al) will investigate the deep waters in and around Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM), the Geologists Seamounts group, and the Main Hawaiian Islands.
(Above) The project area to be explored (image created from a synthesis of existing multi beam mapping data by Dr. John R. Smith of the University of Hawaii): Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Johnston Atoll Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
What will they be doing down there? Here’s the itinerary:
July 10 to 24: Mapping exploration cruise focused offshore of Johnston Atoll
July 31 to August 22: Telepresence-enabled ROV/CTD/mapping cruise focused on PMNM.
August 28 to September 3: Telepresence-enabled ROV/CTD/mapping cruise focused offshore the Main Hawaiian Islands and Geologists Seamounts.
September 7 to 30: Telepresence-enabled ROV cruise focused offshore of Johnston Atoll.
Acquire data to support priority marine national monument and national marine sanctuary science and management needs;
Identification and characterization of vulnerable marine habitats - particularly high-density deep-sea coral and sponge communities;
Characterization of seamounts within the Prime Crust Zone (PCZ), an area of the Pacific with the highest expected concentration of deep-sea minerals, including rare metals and rare earth elements;
Collect information on the complex geologic history of Central Pacific Seamounts, particularly those that are or may be relevant to our understanding of plate tectonics; and
Provide a foundation of publicly accessible data and information products to spur further exploration, research, and management activities.
On board the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is their 6,000-meter remotely operated vehicle ‘Deep Discoverer’, the Seirios camera sled and lighting platform.
For the past three years, when the Okeanos Explorer is underway on an expedition, a live feed telepresence is broadcast from the ship showing alternate video streams depending on the exploration and current operations. On these feeds, two red dots are shown. These laser points are 10-centimeters (nearly 4 inches) apart used by scientists and researchers to determine size ratio and relation to objects they are seeing.
You can watch the live video feed (below) and previous legs of the expedition through Dive Highlight Videos and Deep Discoverer Clips here.
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: July 10 - September 30 : Hohonu Moana: Exploring the Deep Waters Off Hawai’i (Live Feed)
Follow along and tweet your questions to @okeanosexplorer with #WhyILoveScience and @EndeavoristOrg
Just like seeing through the eyes of a rover another world, the deep waters off Hawaii are equally as alien.
(Above) August 1, 2015: An unnamed seamount was mapped during our transit mapping operations today. The 2,865-meter high seamount’s peak is 562 meters below the surface of the water, with surrounding water depths of 4,709 meters. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 2, 2015: Two rock samples – likely manganese coated basalt – were collected during today’s dive. Both specimens will be sent to Oregon State University’s Marine Geology Repository where they will be described and made publicly accessible. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 6, 2015: ROV Deep Discoverer places an unidentified sponge in the vehicle’s sampling drawer. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 8, 2015: ROV Deep Discoverer (D2) places a piece of an uknown Corallium species collected at 2,078 meters depth in one of the bio boxes on the ROV. Following collection, the boxes are sealed to keep specimens insulated for their return to the surface. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 9, 2015: Large stalked sponge (Bolosoma sp.) providing a home for a myriad of brittlestars and crustacean associates. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 10, 2015: Large stalked sponge (Bolosoma sp.) providing a home for a myriad of brittlestars and crustacean associates. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 11, 2015: Sea star clinging to a coral. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
(Above) August 12, 2015: Close up image of a Hexactinellid or glass sponge, with commensal anemones growing throughout its tissues. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana.
Watch the live feed, and the highlights! Don’t forget your (Live) Field Guide:
Related: ‘See the strange creatures NOAA found at the bottom of the sea’
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