Highlight images from expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico, 2001-2009.
Ocean Explorer Expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico,
2001-2009
The Gulf of Mexico is at the forefront of international news since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010. This region, with its unique climate and underwater habitats, has been the focus of many NOAA Ocean Explorer expeditions since the program's inception in 2001. Below are links to the expeditions conducted by OER in the Gulf of Mexico between 2001 and 2009.
2009
Exploring the Submerged New World 2009(October) Scientists explored the North American Florida Middle Grounds for traces of early human occupation on a submerged late Pleistocene landscape.
Lophelia II 2009: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(August) Scientists returned to the Gulf of Mexico to collect data related to cold water corals: their habitats, their levels of genetic connectivity, and the distribution of their communities.
2008
Lophelia II 2008: Deepwater Coral Expedition: Reefs, Rigs, and Wrecks(September) Scientists used a combination of remote sensing, quantitative community collections, and genetic analyses to further our understanding of cold water corals and the communities associated with them.
The Northeastern Gulf of Mexico 2008(July) A team of Maritime archaeologists returned to the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to study the inundated late pleistocene landscapes and how these features may give clues to Florida's first Snowbirds.
2007
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007(June) This year's mission revisited previous discoveries and explores new areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
2006
Expedition to the Deep Slope 2006(May - June) Scientists conducted the first systematic exploration of hydrocarbon seep communities in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
2005
Operation Deep Scope 2005(August - September) Scientists returned to explore the benthic creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, hoping to continue an astonishing array of discoveries, including that of a fluorescent shark, fluorescent methane hydrates, and a new species of large deep-sea squid.
2004
Operation Deep Scope(August) The science team used advanced camera systems and light-tight traps to explore the benthic creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico - one of the most geologically complex regions on the planet.
WW II Shipwreck Survey(July-August) Scientists ventured into the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico to learn the long-term effect of manmade structures on the deep sea, and conversely, the effect of the environment on those structures.
2003
Gulf of Mexico Habitats(September - October) An interdisciplinary scientific team spent 12 days exploring deep sea coral habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
Deep Sea Medicines(September) A team studied marine organisms found in deep water habitats in the Gulf of Mexico as potential sources of new drugs.
Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Biology(February) A student team studied the reproductive biology and biochemistry of cold-seep mussels and various other seasonally reproducing deep-sea animals.
2002
Gulf of Mexico(June - October) An exploration team explored and studied the communities of animals found around deep-sea oil seeps to improve our understanding of the lush habitats that thrive in the absence of sunlight.
2001
Islands in the Stream(May - August) Scientists explored coral reef and hard-bottom communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico. A special focus was the effects of currents on the life cycles and migration patterns of various species.
For additional information, please contact Fred Gorell or Keeley Belva, public affairs officers in NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
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