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.
By Katrin Iken and Russ Hopcroft
Learn more about plans to explore the Gulf of Alaska, which is part of the northern-most portion of the north Pacific and is a productive system well known for its iconic species and extensive fisheries that supply US and international markets with high-quality seafood. The continental shelf system of the Gulf of Alaska is relatively well known, yet much less is understood about the deep portion of the Gulf.
Read moreBy Kathy Kuletz
In the northern Gulf of Alaska, as with all sub-arctic and Arctic regions, seabird communities and abundance change dramatically with the seasons. During spring, many birds migrate through and species richness is highest, with up to 56 species recorded during offshore surveys.
Read moreBy Russ Hopcroft
Some areas of the Gulf of Alaska have been studied for zooplankton, the small water column drifting organisms that make up an essential part of the marine food chain, for decades. However, collections have generally been confined to the continental shelf area of the Gulf of Alaska (200 meters, maximum depth).
Read moreBy Katrin Iken
The benthic – or seafloor - organisms – are the element that have garnered probably among the most scientific interest and curiosity about seamounts. The typically hard substrate of the seamount tops support a unique and highly diverse fauna.
Read moreBy R. Eric Collins
As best we can tell, life on Earth originated in the oceans and evolved as microscopic bacteria, algae, protists, and viruses. Billions of years later, microbes are still running the show in the world’s seas.
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