Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea Mapping 1
(EX2403)
Dates
June 21 - July 11, 2024
Vessel
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
Location
Pacific Ocean: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Primary goal
Increase mapping coverage in unexplored areas of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, with a focus on waters deeper than 200 meters (656 feet)
Primary technologies
Multibeam sonar
Expedition Preview
From June 21 to July 11, 2024, NOAA Ocean Exploration will conduct an exploratory ocean mapping expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer focused on waters generally deeper than 200 meters (656 feet) in and around Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Operations during the Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea Mapping 1 expedition will include the use of the ship’s deepwater mapping systems, expendable bathythermograph (XBTs) in support of multibeam sonar mapping operations, conductivity, temperature, depth profiler (CTD) casts, and a high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous ship-to-shore communications via telepresence. Collected data will result in high-resolution maps of the seafloor and provide acoustic backscatter data information about the seabed and water column. Data on deepwater habitats, including deep-sea coral and sponge communities, important fish habitats, and chemosynthetic communities, will support science and management needs. Mapping of geologic features can contribute to increased understanding of the geological context of the region and improve knowledge of past and potential geohazards.
During the expedition, the on-ship team will also support partner projects, including the collection of sun photometer measurements in partnership with NASA and the collection of acoustic observations of bats offshore in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Additionally, in support of NOAA Ocean Exploration’s goal of training the next generation of ocean explorers, four explorers-in-training will participate in the expedition, three focused on assisting in the collection and processing of sonar data and one supporting communication efforts.
During the expedition, NOAA will host two Native Hawaiian cultural liaisons. These liaisons will share and lead protocols and cultural practices while working in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. These roles highlight the value of Indigenous knowledge and practices as an important part of building a holistic understanding of the biocultural oceanscape of the marine monument.
All data collected during the expedition will contribute to Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific, a multiyear, collaborative science and research campaign aimed at bringing together partners to raise collective knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of waters in the Pacific Islands region through coastal and ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization.
![The Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea Mapping 1 expedition will begin and end in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. During in-port periods, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will be docked at the NOAA Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center on Oahu’s Ford Island, as it was in this image from 2015.](/okeanos/explorations/okeanos-beyond-the-blue/ex2403/media/ex-honolulu-800.jpg)
![Explorer-in-training Edward Kim works to process multibeam bathymetry data collected during an expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Three explorers-in-training will join the Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea Mapping 1 expedition in this role.](/okeanos/explorations/okeanos-beyond-the-blue/ex2403/media/eit-edward-kim-800.jpg)
![This map shows the general operating area during the Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea Mapping 1 expedition, with the approximate track of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer into Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument shown as a yellow line, mapping targets shaded in white, and the boundaries of marine national monuments shown in purple.](/okeanos/explorations/okeanos-beyond-the-blue/ex2403/media/expedition-map.jpg)
Meet the Explorers
Naming every participant in a telepresence-enabled expedition is next to impossible, as scientists from around the world have provided input into the expedition plan. However, we've gathered information about the members of the team who are sailing on the ship and participating in the expedition from sea - meet the team!
![Thomas Morrow](/okeanos/explorations/ex2202/explorers/media/morrow-125.jpg)
Thomas Morrow
Expedition Coordinator
![Fernando Aragon](/okeanos/explorations/ex2203/explorers/media/aragon-125.jpg)
Fernando Aragon
Technical Team Member, Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration
![Amanda Bittenger](/okeanos/explorations/ex2105_2106/explorers/media/bittinger-125.jpg )
Amanda Bittenger
Mapping Watch Lead
![Elizabeth Huang](/okeanos/explorations/okeanos-beyond-the-blue/ex2403/media/elizabeth-huang-125.jpg)
Elizabeth Huang
Explorer-in-Training
Education Content
Education Theme pages provide the best of what the NOAA Ocean Exploration website has to offer to support your classroom during this expedition. On each theme page, you will find links to expedition features, lessons, multimedia, career information, and associated past expeditions.
Related Links
Expeditions
- NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific
- Campaign to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE)
- Exploration Vessel Nautilus and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Technology
Media Contacts
Emily Crum
Communications Specialist
NOAA Ocean Exploration
ocean-explore-comms@noaa.gov
Keeley Belva
Public Affairs Officer
NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
keeley.belva@noaa.gov
Sarah Marquis
West Coast/Pacific Islands Media Coordinator
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
sarah.marquis@noaa.gov
For more information, visit the Media Resources page.
Expeditions conducted by NOAA Ocean Exploration as part of Beyond the Blue will contribute to the National Strategy for Exploring, Mapping, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and Seabed 2030.
As appropriate, data collected during all expeditions will be available in NOAA’s public data archives within 90-120 days of its completion and will be accessible via the NOAA Ocean Exploration Data Atlas.
Published June 18, 2024