Join us for the INDEX 2010: 'Indonesia-USA Deep-Sea Exploration of the Sangihe Talaud Region'. This unique expedition to one of the most biologically diverse areas of the world’s ocean will help advance our understanding of undersea ecosystems, particularly those associated with submarine volcanoes and hydrothermal vents. The geographical area of operation is located entirely within the ‘Coral Triangle Region’, the global heart of shallow-water marine biodiversity. This will also be the first time scientists use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to get even a glimpse of deepwater biodiversity in the waters of the Sangihe Talaud Region. During the expedition U.S. and Indonesian scientists will work side-by-side on two ships, the Okeanos Explorer and the Indonesian research vessel Baruna Jaya IV, and at Exploration Command Centers ashore. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/welcome.html http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/include/images/ocean_explorer_podcast_100.jpg http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/welcome.html View some spectacular underwater highlight video footage from the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer during the INDEX 2010 Exploration of the Sangihe Talaud Region, Indonesia. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/media/slideshow/video_playlist.html August 6 Log Adjusting to strong currents and treacherous terrain while still creating quality pictures can be difficult, but a pilot’s real difficulty is finding time while flying to communicate with the rest of the ROV team and with scientists on shore. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug06/aug06.html August 5 Log Multibeam mapping may not be as exciting as ROV video, but without knowing what the seafloor looks like, we wouldn’t know where to explore with the ROV. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug05/aug05.html August 4 Log The Indonesian R/V Baruna Jaya IV recently conducted an integrated hydrography, oceanography, geology and fisheries survey off the west side of Siau island. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug04/aug04.html August 3 Log While the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is operating in Indonesian waters, satellite and high-speed Internet pathways, AKA 'telepresence', enables shore-side scientist participation across the globe. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug03/aug03.html August 2 Log NOAA Corps officers work throughout all of NOAA’s offices, both onshore and at sea aboard NOAA’s fleet of 19 vessels (and 12 aircraft). http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug02/aug02.html August 1 Log Operations vary every day on this ship. At any given point in time, we may be conducting a CTD, a plankton tow, a deep or shallow water trawl, ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profile) measurements, or bathymetric surveys. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/aug01/aug01.html July 31 Log The EM302 multibeam sonar system onboard the Okeanos Explorer is one of the most state of the art systems of its kind available in the world today. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july31/july31.html July 29 Log Here is a brief look at what a typical day is like on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer while the ship is underway and conducting operations. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july29/july29.html July 27 Log Every now and again, something remarkable happens—a sunset, a great video from the ROV or discovering a plume in the multibeam—which reminds me why I keep coming back for more. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july27/july27.html July 26 Log "Creative solutions turn challenges into opportunities." U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume wrote those words in an op-ed a few years ago. He also lives by them. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july26/july26.html July 24 Log Video technology plays a big role in the exploration we are engaged with here on the Okeanos Explorer. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july24/july24.html July 22 Log As we continue on our first mission of Ocean Exploration, collectively we must strive to answer one of our most controversial questions: Where does Exploration stop and Research Science begin? http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july22/july22.html July 12 Log A massive population of barnacles feed on passing plankton, using their cirri—feathery feeding structures that come out of the barnacle to snag food from the water column. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july12/july12.html July 11 Log Today we had one of the most interesting dives so far during this expedition. The location was the volcanic feature termed “Target K” in the southwestern part of our area of operations. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july11/july11.html July 9 Log INDEX 2010 marks the first time all of Okeanos Explorer’s primary capabilities have come together with shore-side Exploration Command Centers (ECCs) to conduct systematic exploration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july09/july09.html July 7 Log Many people are curious as to the cast of characters that make an operation like this work. Learn more about the Okeanos Explorer's ROV Operations Team. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july07/july07.html July 5 Log The Indonesian Research Vessel Baruna Jaya IV has been busy making final preparations to join the expedition and bring her complementary capabilities to bear on exploring the Sangihe Talaud region. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july05/july05.html July 4 Log Birthdays, milestones and holidays can be an opportunity for the whole crew to get together and participate in a single activity as a group. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july04/july04.html July 2 Log At American Embassies around the world, one of the most important events of the year is the 4th of July party. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/july02/july02.html June 30 Log We are deep in one of the most exotic seas in the world – the centre of the Coral Triangle with the highest diversity of marine animals in the world. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june30/june30.html June 29 Log After many months of planning and preparation, today marked the first day of full telepresence operations at the Exploration Command Center (ECC) based in Seattle, WA. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june29/june29.html June 27 Log We are making a more detailed seafloor map of a 2,400 square mile area west of the Sangihe arc using a high-precision sonar device on board the ship. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june27/june27.html June 24th marked the start of the first expedition where all of the sensors on Okeanos Explorer will work in unison to explore unknown depths in Indonesian waters. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june26/june26.html June 25 Log Scientists and participants at the Jakarta ECC are utilizing telepresence to explore the ocean for the first time! http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june25/june25.html The Indonesia-U.S. ocean exploration partnership represents the rapidly evolving partnership between the two countries. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june24/june24.html After more than one and a half years of planning and preparation, INDEX-SATAL 2010 has finally started. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer first port of call during its maiden expedition to Indonesia was one to be remembered. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/june23/june23.html Read short daily summaries of the ship's activities, written by the INDEX 2010 Expedition Coordinator. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/logs/dailyupdates/dailyupdates.html Watch a video podcast on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer equipped with the latest in technology systems yet, solely dedicated for exploration and discovery missions. Learn why a 3-D image of a gas plume rising 4,600 feet from the Mendocino Ridge seafloor off the California coast is remarkable. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/media/movies/ex_podcast_video.html View A compilation of video clips collected in deepwater by the Little Hercules Remotely Operated Vehicle and camera platform during an ROV shakedown cruise aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer offshore Kona, Hawaii (March 2010). http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/media/movies/ex_kealakekua_bay_video.html (June – August) An international team led by scientists from the United States and Indonesia will participate in the first series of collaborative Indonesia-U.S. expeditions. This unique expedition to one of the most biologically diverse areas of the world’s ocean will explore the depths of Indonesian Sangihe Talaud Region from June to August 2010. http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/10index/background/plan/plan.html