Meet Chris Kelley (deep-sea biologist, University of University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa), Daniel Wagner (research specialist, NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument), Kelley Elliott (NOAA ocean explorer) and Meme Lobecker (NOAA seafloor mapping expert). On August 12, they will be joined by the Mission Team onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to answer your questions about our expedition to explore the deep waters off Hawaii.
They will be on the second of four expedition legs, exploring in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. They will also later explore Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. These large marine protected areas are national symbols of ocean conservation; however, given their remote location, the vast majority of deeper waters in these areas remains unseen by human eyes.
Throughout the expedition, they are using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the seafloor, and the ROVs’ video streams are being transmitted via satellite from ship to shore. This means anyone with an Internet connection can tune in LIVE with scientists from around the world, sharing an unprecedented glimpse of never-seen-before deep marine habitats.
They expect to encounter large, diverse coral and sponge communities; explore ancient seamounts; map the seafloor; and learn more about the geologic history of the area. Information collected during the expedition will support management decisions to protect what we know, as well as what we have yet to discover.
They have all participated in numerous deep-ocean exploration missions and on August 12, they'll be available on Reddit from 2:00 pm ET to 4:00 pm ET to answer your questions about the Hawaiian expedition or ocean exploration in general. "Ask them anything!"
When: August 12, 2:00 pm ET to 4:00 pm ET
Where: Reddit Science AMA Series
