Publications & Reports

NOAA Ocean Exploration has funded numerous ocean exploration expeditions and projects since its inception in 2001. Related reports and peer-reviewed publications are available through the NOAA Library as well as the NOAA Ocean Exploration Data Atlas, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer data landing pages, and NOAA Ocean Exploration Competitive Grant Program data landing pages, online tools that provide centralized access to NOAA Ocean Exploration data archived with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.

Other publications and reports (e.g., manuals, annual reports) produced by NOAA Ocean Exploration are available directly from this web page.

NOAA Ocean Exploration Subject Guide

The NOAA Library maintains the online NOAA Ocean Exploration subject guide that provides links to NOAA web pages, reports and publications, and data holdings associated with expeditions and projects conducted or supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration. Where available, links to peer-reviewed articles are also provided. Users can browse articles by expedition or by author.

NOAA Institutional Repository

The NOAA Library maintains the online NOAA Institutional Repository to collect and make available materials published by NOAA authors and funded partners. The Ocean Exploration Program collection includes materials associated with NOAA Ocean Exploration as well as other agency ocean exploration-related activities. Such materials include peer-reviewed articles, expedition-related reports, data management plans, guidance documents, and other NOAA Ocean Exploration-related documents.

Bibliometric Analysis of Articles Supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration

The NOAA Library produces quarterly summary-level bibliometric analyses of known peer-reviewed journal articles produced as a result of scientific work supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration. The bibliometric indicators in these reports are based on citations from the select group of peer-reviewed journal articles indexed by the Web of Science and therefore do not reflect citations to NOAA Ocean Exploration-supported research from peer-reviewed journals outside of the Web of Science or from other sources such as book chapters, conference proceedings, or technical reports.

Reports are available from the homepage of the NOAA Ocean Exploration subject guide under Impact of NOAA Ocean Exploration.

NOAA OER Deepwater Exploration Mapping Procedures Manual

The “NOAA OER Deepwater Exploration Mapping Procedures Manual” is a comprehensive manual that describes methodologies for data collection, processing, reporting, and archiving for ship-based exploratory ocean mapping operations deeper than 200 meters (656 feet). In the context of the U.S. national strategy and Seabed 2030, NOAA Ocean Exploration shared this manual as a contribution to broader efforts to develop standard ocean mapping protocols and serve as a guide for other interested public and private entities conducting deepwater mapping and exploration.

NOAA Ocean Exploration ROV and Telepresence Deepwater Exploration Procedures Manual

The “NOAA Ocean Exploration ROV and Telepresence Deepwater Exploration Procedures Manual” describes NOAA Ocean Exploration’s principles and procedures for ship-based remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and telepresence deepwater exploration (ROV expeditions). The manual is intended to improve transparency for ocean exploration stakeholders regarding NOAA Ocean Exploration’s operations; consolidate dispersed information into one document for ease of use and reference; and serve as a resource for other members of the ocean science and resource management communities who want to use ROVs to collect and share data that meet NOAA and national standards for public use.

NOAA Ocean Exploration Sampling Procedures Manual

The “NOAA Ocean Exploration Sampling Procedures Manual” documents the sampling operations, data archiving procedures, and reporting requirements used by NOAA Ocean Exploration for expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. While this manual is specific to NOAA Ocean Exploration, it may be useful for use on other research vessels as well. Additional guidance, standard operating procedures, and worksheets are available upon request from NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Exploration Variables Identified by NOAA Ocean Exploration

“Exploration Variables Identified by NOAA Ocean Exploration” reports on high-priority exploration variables using NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer as a case study to understand how NOAA Ocean Exploration addresses them through one of our primary assets.

Annual Reports

Annual reports provide information about ocean exploration activities conducted or supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration by year.