Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014

Mission Logs

Follow along as participants in the cruise provide updates and reflections on their experiences, the science, the technology, and other elements of the expedition.

  • Mission Summary

    Mission Summary

    During August, September, and October 2014, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer systematically explored diverse habitats and geological settings of the U.S. Atlantic Submarine Canyons and New England Seamount Chain.

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  • Just Look at the World Around You, Right Here on the Ocean Floor!

    October 6, 2014  |  By Kasey Cantwell

    October 6

    This log presents some of our web coordinator's favorite images that didn’t make it into daily updates or mission logs.

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  • Predation in the Deep Sea

    October 6, 2014

    October 6 Predation

    In this log, we'll be sharing video of five different examples of deep-sea predation encountered over the course of the Deepwater Backyard expedition. Being able to witness these kinds of predation events live offers scientists unique glimpses into the lives and behavoirs of critters of the deep.

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  • Top 5 Geology Moments of Leg 3

    October 5, 2014  |  By Susan Schnur

    October 5

    In this log, we'll be sharing video of five different examples of deep-sea predation encountered over the course of the Deepwater Backyard expedition. Being able to witness these kinds of predation events live offers scientists unique glimpses into the lives and behavoirs of critters of the deep.

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  • Cerianthids, Zoanthids, and Anemones...Oh My!

    October 4, 2014  |  By Scott C. France

    October 4

    If you have been following along on the dives on this leg, you are getting very used to hearing the terms “polyp,” “anemone,” “tube anemone,” “coral,” and “zoanthid,” as we see all of these quite frequently.

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  • Mapping Onboard Okeanos Explorer - The Other 12 Hours of Operations

    October 3, 2014  |  By Lindsay McKenna

    October 3

    What happens on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer when the weather is too poor to deploy the remotely operated vehicles? We map!

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  • Life as the Operations Officer

    October 2, 2014  |  By Emily Rose

    October 2

    As the Operations Officer aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, my job is to coordinate all of the scientific mission objectives with the ship and the ship’s command.

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  • What is That? Jellyfish and Other Gelatinous Animals

    October 1, 2014  |  By Sarah Graddy

    October 1

    For many of the viewers of the live-streaming video from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer’s remotely operated vehicle expeditions, the descent of ROV Deep Discoverer into the depths of the ocean just means that they have to wait a little longer to get to the discoveries at the bottom.

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  • A Day in the Life of a Scientist on the Okeanos Explorer

    September 30, 2014  |  By Susan Schnur

    September 30

    On every telepresence-enabled remotely operated vehicle (ROV) cruise on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, two research scientists have an opportunity to join the floating community of mariners, engineers, and data and video specialists that calls the ship home.

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  • The Marvel of Telepresence: Scientific Collaboration Across the Miles

    September 29, 2014  |  By Scott C. France

    September 29

    In our wired (and wireless) world, and with the magnificent technology aboard Okeanos Explorer, the experience of going to sea is vastly different from when I began as a graduate student.

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  • The Wild Life of Canyon and Seamount Fishes

    September 28, 2014  |  By Peter Auster and Emily Duwan

    September 28

    When comparing the fish fauna between different submarine canyons, as well as between canyons and seamounts, there are obvious differences in species diversity and abundance.

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  • Cyclocanna welshi

    September 27, 2014  |  By Allen Collins

    September 27

    During Dive 2 of the second leg of Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts expedition, remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer encountered two jellyfish.

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  • Ground Control to Major Tom: Seeing the New England Seamounts via Telepresence

    September 25, 2014  |  By Rhian Waller

    September 25

    During Dive 2 of the second leg of Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts expedition, remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer encountered two jellyfish.

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  • Sub-bottom Profiling

    September 24, 2014  |  By Jason D. Chaytor

    September 24

    In addition to the multibeam mapping system on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, there are a number of other mapping/geophysical instruments that are used to map geology below the seafloor surface and to image the water column.

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  • Let's Meet the Deep-sea Stars of the North Atlantic Canyons

    September 22, 2014  |  By Christopher Mah

    September 22

    The starfish you encounter on these dives are not exactly commonplace. Starting to learn about them first entails knowing which ones are which – not an easy task given how poorly known some of these species are.

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  • Advice for the Next Generation of Explorers

    September 21, 2014

    September 21

    Recently, the Okeanos Explorer team was asked what advice we would give to students or individuals who are starting their careers and are interested in getting into the ocean exploration field.

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  • For Want of a Pump

    September 18, 2014  |  By Brian Kennedy

    September 18

    A research vessel is a very complex operation. Not only do you have all of the state-of-the-art electronics on the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and sonars, but you have the entire engineering plant for the ship, that is honestly our life support systems.

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  • Star-Spangled Spectacular

    September 16, 2014

    September 16

    From September 10-16, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and the NOAA Office of Exploration and Research participated in the Star-Spangled Spectacular in Baltimore, Maryland. Over 2,100 people visited and toured the ship during this time.

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  • Leg 2 Highlight Images

    Highlights

    Highlight images from dives during Leg 2 of the expedition.

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