Surveying Deep-sea Corals, Sponges, and Fish Habitat Off the U.S. West Coast

Background Information

The essays below will help you to understand the goals and objectives of the mission and provide additional context and information about the places being explored and the science, tools, and technologies being used.

  • Mission Plan

    The proposed cruise track for the Surveying Deep-sea Corals, Sponges, and Fish Habitat Off the U.S. West Coast expedition.

    From October 7 to November 7, 2019, scientists from NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will conduct a 29-day expedition aboard NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts.

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  • EXPRESS Overview

    The Southern California Seafloor Mapping Initiative (SCSMI) - a regional effort to collect high resolution mapping data applicable to numerous federal and state agencies – laid the foundation for EXPRESS. Multiple vessels will contribute to the emerging campaign.

    EXPRESS, short for EXpanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems, is the latest evolution of the multi-year, multi-ship campaign concept. What started in 2017 as a simple one-day multibeam survey on NOAA Ship Rainier off central California quickly evolved into a major west coast field program engaging and exciting scientists and marine resource managers spanning numerous disciplines and organizations.

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  • Remote Operated Vehicles

    GFOE Remotely Operated Vehicle Yogi is portable and capable to 1500 meters.

    A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is an unoccupied underwater robot that is connected to a ship by a series of cables. These cables transmit command and control signals between the operator and the ROV, allowing remote navigation of the vehicle and exploration of areas of the ocean that would otherwise be difficult to access.

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  • Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

    The SeaBED AUV on deck awaits deployment.

    Autonomous underwater vehicles are unmanned, untethered vehicles used to conduct underwater research in ocean environments that are a challenge to study because they are difficult to get to.

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  • Offshore Wind Energy

    By Joan Barminski and Cathie Dunkel

    The 30 megawatt (MW) Hywind Scotland project began producing electricity from five 6 MW floating wind turbines off Peterhead, Scotland in October 2017.

    Offshore winds, which tend to be stronger and more consistent than on land, are an abundant energy resource that is located close to major coastal population centers.

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