The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, also dubbed “America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration,” has embarked on a new expedition to explore the Mid-Atlantic Ocean’s submarine canyons and seamounts. From September 4 to October 7, 2014, the ship will explore the largely unknown deep-sea ecosystems of the U.S. Atlantic coast.
The scientists on board are collaborating broadly with researchers throughout our region and beyond to collect critical baseline data using the remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer. This ground-breaking scientific voyage is a follow-up to a 2013 expedition to the Northeast U.S. Canyons during which the explorers discovered critical deep-sea coral habitats, previously unknown methane seeps and associated chemosynthetic communities, along with potential new species.
MARCO helped identify priority operating areas for this current three-leg, 52-day expedition.
Learn more about the expedition and follow the exploration live online at: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1404/welcome.html
In the meantime, enjoy this video compiled NRDC of some of the wonders of the Mid-Atlantic deep:
Remotely operated vehicles Deep Discoverer and Seirios are secured to the deck and ready for the first dive. Image courtesy of NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014.