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Explorations
Deepseawaters Explorations
2008 - 2007 Deepseawaters
Explorations
Medicines
from the Deep Sea
The discovery of novel chemical compounds from deep-sea marine organisms often takes us to new and exciting locations. One of the first steps in planning such an expedition is to thoroughly review the scientific literature about a new target site. This includes reviewing surveys and literature on the biology and geology of a region by environmental consulting firms, government agencies, such as the Minerals Management Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. Geological Survey, and various research institutions.
 AUVfest 2008: Navy Mine-Hunting Robots help NOAA Explore Sunken History
AUVfest 2008 is a unique opportunity to demonstrate and test
the applications of autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs,
for both mine countermeasures and archaeological research.
In total, 13 AUV systems are participating in the missions,
which will take place in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.
2007: Exploring the Inner Space
of the Celebes Sea
Our expedition takes us to unexplored waters south of the
Philippine Islands, in search of the strange, and possibly
unknown, fishes, jellyfish, squids and shrimp that live in
the dark deep waters of the Celebes Sea. Surrounded by much
shallower ocean waters, the Celebes plunges to over 5,000
meters, and in these waters there may well be species that
have evolved in isolation from other surrounding waters.
Seeking
a Better Understanding of Atmospheric Mercury
The Air Resources Laboratory measures and models atmospheric
mercury to provide essential information to policy-makers
and planners. Researchers are using their measurement capabilities
at three core mercury monitoring sites in a multi-agency national
monitoring network designed to address total mercury deposition
across the country.
 Bonaire
2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies
This expedition will use AUVs to survey the most pristine
coral reef environment in the Caribbean. Bonaire,
Netherlands Antilles, is arguably the most pristine coral
reef environment in the Caribbean. Percent coral cover is
the highest and percent algal cover the lowest compared to
other Caribbean reefs and thus its reef environment represents
a baseline against which we can compare other coral reefs.
 “Fishery
Failure” Declared for West Coast Salmon Fishery
Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared
a commercial fishery failure for the West
Coast salmon fishery due to historically low salmon returns.
The unprecedented collapse of the salmon population will hit
fishermen, their families, and fishing communities hard, and
that is why we have moved quickly to declare a fishery disaster.
 Submarine
Ring of Fire 2007
NOAA continued a multi-year series of discovery missions to
undersea volcanoes and hydrothermal vents associated with
the Submarine Ring of Fire, a large but virtually
unexplored province in the Pacific where the Earth’s
tectonic plates are being forced below the Earth’s crust.
 Okeanos
Explorer
Okeanos Explorer will be operated by the
NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations commissioned officers
of the NOAA Corps and civilians in support of the NOAA Office
of Ocean Exploration. The Corps is composed
of officers—all scientists and engineers—who provide operational,
management and technical skills supporting NOAA's environmental
programs.
 Expedition
to the Deep Slope 2007
This year’s “Expedition to the Deep Slope”
expedition will continue our exploration and study of hydrocarbon
seep communities deeper than 1000 meters in the Gulf of Mexico.
Funded by the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the leader
in supporting the scientific characterization of seep communities
in the Gulf of Mexico, and the NOAA Ocean Exploration (OE)
program.
 Cayman
Islands Twilight Zone 2007
Coral reefs and sunlight are almost synonymous in marine biology
since most corals exist in an unusual symbiosis with microscopic
plants called zooxanthellae. However, recent evidence indicates
that light-limited deep reefs (between 50 and 150m: also known
as the “Twilight Zone”¹) are an important
transition habitat where many shallow-reef and deep-sea organisms
coexist with each other and with species unique to this depth
range.
2007 Summary Explorations
 Cumberland
Club 2007
The grant from the NOAA Ocean Explorer education program has
given interested students a once in a life time opportunity
to be part of something real. They all want to come back next
year as senior members to mentor the new Cumberland Club kids,
and are all welcome to attend!
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