Ask an Explorer

Selected questions and answers were posted here throughout the mission.

September 17 - Questions & Answers
September 15 - Questions & Answers
September 11 - Questions & Answers
September 9 - Questions & Answers

September 17 - Questions & Answers

Question:

Every summer there is at least one or two hurricanes that travel through the mostly shallow Gulf of Mexico. To what depths can a Category 2 or 3 hurricane have an adverse effect on the ecosystems in this large body of water?

- Luanne Memmott, Student Rollins College Brevard Campus Melbourne, FL.

Answer:

Hurricanes can have many effects on open marine systems. Huge swells can reach down to approximately one half of their wavelength, which can be as deep as 300-400 ft. The wind could blow enough surface water away creating an upwelling current that pushes excess nutrients to the surface, which in turn may lead to algal blooms. Algal blooms normally occur as nutrient rich bottom water reaches the surface. Also, the freshwater from the excess rain can also affect the top layers of the water due to the bottom waters being stirred up causing increased turbidity. Turbidity (suspended particles in the water) can reduce the amount of light reflected through the water causing the amount of photosynthesis occurring at the surface to decrease. Decreased photosynthesis on the surface can affect organisms as far down as the sea floor due to a lack of food flowing to the bottom. Thanks Luanne.

Question:

I am familiar with many food products that we get from the sea, such as Nori for Sushi and agar in jellies and desserts. If you find a good product will you try to figure out a way to reproduce it chemically in the lab, or will you splice the genes into a more common sponge/organism and actually have a biological production of it? I imagine these rare species would not survive in intensive harvesting for biomedical products or would not grow well in a lab setting.

- Liz Baird, NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

Answer:

If we find a good compound during this research we will definitely try to reproduce it in the laboratory. This is no easy task since some cells cannot be cultured in the laboratory. It is not beneficial to the ecosystem to turn the oceans into the next pharmacy source. The preferable way to process any compounds would be to identify the gene and attempt to reproduce it synthetically in the lab and then turn it over to the pharmaceutical industry for trial and then hopefully mass production for human use. Thanks Liz.

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September 15 - Questions & Answers

Question:

How long did it take you to find the sponge you were looking for?

Answer:

The Forceipia sponge was not easy to find. Since the last documented survey in 1988 the number of Forcepia appears to h-ave declined. We finally found Forcepia on the second day of dive operations, September 11 (see September 11 Log). The scientists actually got more Forcepia than they originally needed and now have it in excess to conduct more experiments for biomedical potential. Thanks

Question:

There have been different sights predictions of where Hurricane Isabelle can hit. If it moves your way, will it affect the study and if so to what extent?

- Student at Eau Gallie HS.

Answer:

Current predictions do not directly put us in the path of Hurricane Isabelle. As of September 16, the Hurricane is heading up the Atlantic Coast. However, should this Hurricane or any other weather event come through the Gulf there are contingency plans already established. An example of two would be to move to another site in the Gulf where the ship and all aboard will be safe or if it really gets bad we always have the option to come into a port. Whatever happens out here, safety of the crew, science party, and ship is always a priority to our most capable Captain and crew. Thanks Eau Gallie HS Student.

Question:

My sons and I have been keeping up to date with the deep-sea medicines project that you are currently working on in the Gulf. They are 2 & 4 year old. They are very intrigued by oceanography and the ROV's, especially the Innovator since their Daddy is on of the Sonsub employees on the ship. Are you going to post pictures or a story about the Sonsub crew?

Jamey and sons

Answer:

You will be happy to know that all of the Sonsub Inc. employees are working hard and that your husband (Ray) is doing well. I am sure you and your sons are very proud, as they have been essential to the scientists in accomplishing their objectives. The entire crew is excited about the work they are participating in with the scientists and show great pride in their work and professionalism. There is a short feature essay about the Sonsub Inc. crew in the September 13 Log, check it out. At the end of the mission, a headshot and short bio of each member of the Sonsub Inc. crew will be included in the Explorers section of this mission. Thanks Jamey and sons.

Question:

How is it so far? It seems like a lot of fun, and how is the current in the Gulf of Mexico with the Hurricane southeast of you? What is the real year that the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown was built, because I have been getting different answers?

Period 2, Eau Gallie High School

Answer:

The mission has been great so far. We have had some very successful dives and have collected many of the target species the scientists wanted to go. The group on board has been and everyone is working together. The NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown was commissioned in 1996. The water at times has been very calm even glassy. As Hurricane Isabelle developed into a larger storm the water started to get choppier but not very rough. As of September 16, the Hurricane is heading up the Atlantic Coast and will most likely not affect this expedition. Thanks period 2, Eau Gallie High School

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September 11 - Questions & Answers

Question:

I think it's really great that someone is finally getting out there but why have we waited so long to go to the Gulf of Mexico? It's so close you would think we would have looked there already?

Answer:

The HBOI scientists have visited this area of the Gulf before. They have nicknamed this area "Forcepia-land" because in past studies they have found the sponge in abundance in this area. It does seem strange that there are places so close to Florida that we have yet to explore. Think of the world's oceans as an NFL football field, and then imagine tossing a quarter onto the field. The area that quarter takes up on the field would be a good approximation of what an average expedition could cover during one trip, if we are lucky. Thanks for the question.

Question:

Where do the scientists sleep and eat while on the ship (what are the living conditions like)?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary, Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

Living conditions are quite nice onboard the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown. The scientists and crew sleep in very clean but small staterooms. There are bathrooms and showers similar to that of a hotel. When it is time to eat we all go to the galley (or cafeteria) where the ship's Stewards prepare our meals. The food is good and is always available, especially if we get hungry at night and need a late bite to eat.

Question:

How do you collect samples from the bottom of the Gulf if things shrink when they are in the sub?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary, Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

Only things with compressible gasses shrink when taken to the bottom. Most of the samples we collect do not have compressible gases in them, so when we bring them to the surface they don't shrink. Some of the organisms shrink as a defense mechanism of being pulled from their habitat but not so much from being brought to the surface. When you send a Styrofoam cup down in the ROV it shrinks because the cups have air in them.

Question:

When are you sending the cups down to shrink?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary, Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

We will send the cups down when we get to deeper water. The deeper the water the more pressure there is on the organisms. The cups will shrink better when the pressure is higher.

Question:

Will you have a camera so we can see you while you work on the boat? Will there be pictures on the gallery page where we can see you and the scientist on your expedition?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary, Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

Photos are being taken daily and some will be posted with the daily logs that are sent from the ship. At the end of the expedition there will be a slide show will be posted on this website of the best photos taken during the mission.

Question:

How is the weather and is the hurricane anywhere near you?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

The weather has been great. For the most part the seas have been very calm. The most current weather update we have indicates that Hurricane Isabel is located 685 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, moving west at 12 miles per hour. It is too early to know whether Isabel will threaten the US or this or our temporary home on the Gulf, but we are keeping a close eye on the hurricane and will move to safer waters or the nearest port if necessary.

Question:

What type of ROV will be used in this expedition?

- 2nd graders at Turner Elementary, Palm Bay, FL

Answer:

Sonsub Inc. manufactures the type of ROV being used. It is a heavy working class ROV called the Innovator. It weighs approximately 8000 lbs. (4 tons) and can dive up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) below the surface.

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September 9 - Questions & Answers

Question:

How was your first day?

- Period 2, Melbourne, FL

Answer:

Tiring, but very fulfilling. Field science can be very hard work but in the end it can be very rewarding. The weather has been nice, which is very good for the research that will be conducted on this mission. -- Gary K. Wolfe

Question:

Out of all the marine life you find, how much of it will go towards medical studies?

- Eau Gallie High School

Answer:

A good amount of it will be used for medical study, and any unique specimens may be used for museum display or cataloging.

Question:

What is the newest ocean animal oceanographers have found?

Answer:

We haven't found any so far, but we will keep you posted through the daily logs of any new organisms.

Question:

What exactly are your coordinates, latitude and longitude?

Answer:

On September 9, our coordinates were 26N, 83W.

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