Explore the Mid-Atlantic’s Deep-Sea Canyons
Explore the Mid-Atlantic’s Deep-Sea Canyons
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) biologist Timothy Shank and a team of researchers recently explored eight of the Mid-Atlantic’s lesser-studied canyons with towed camera technology. Their work revealed what the insides of these ancient formations look like in stunning detail and mapped the locations of thousands of never-seen coral colonies. MARCO, one of several partner agencies to have supported the work, is pleased to take you inside the canyons with these three new resources.
Photo Gallery: Mid-Atlantic Canyons
Take a rare glimpse at life 100 fathoms beneath the sea in this collection of two-dozen images captured in the Ryan, Carteret, Lindenkohl, Spencer, Washington, Wilmington, Leonard and Accomac canyons. The scenes capture colorful corals, fish, crabs, cephalopods, steep canyons walls, boulder-strewn landscapes and even disconcerting plastic pollution along the ocean floor.
Portal ‘Ocean Stories’ Feature: ‘Tales from the Mid-Atlantic Canyons’
“It hit me quite hard when I realized, this is underwater America,” Dr. Shank said of his first hours exploring the formations. “These canyons are our property just like Manhattan is or Los Angeles is. Almost half of America is underwater.” In this Ocean Stories profile, Dr. Shank shares impressions and memories from each of his stops, from north to south. Readers should take note of the Portal’s rotating data maps, which switch at each stop to help tell the stories.
‘Exploring the Unexplored: Deep-Sea Canyons of the Mid-Atlantic’
Complementing the MARCO Portal Ocean Story, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program GIS staff created an Esri story map entitled Exploring the Unexplored: Deep-Sea Canyons of the Mid-Atlantic. The story map is intended as an educational resource for all audiences on deep-sea canyons, corals and topography; tow cam survey work; and recent conservation efforts in the Mid-Atlantic. As you scroll down, the maps, photos and narrative information provide a tour of each canyon and the interesting creatures that call them home. Learn more about creating the story map.
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