ROV Deep Discoverer exploring. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Mountains in the Deep: Exploring the Central Pacific Basin. Download image (jpg, 21 KB).
Meet Scott France (deep-sea biologist, University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Del Bohnenstiehl (geophysicist, North Carolina State University), Michael White (NOAA seafloor mapping expert), and Kasey Cantwell (NOAA ocean explorer). They will joined by the Mission Team on board NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on Reddit May 1, from 2 - 4 pm EDT , to answer your questions about the current expedition to explore deep waters in the central Pacific – an area of the world where the vast majority of deeper waters remain unseen by human eyes.
They are currently on the “Mountains in the Deep: Exploring the Central Pacific Basin” expedition to explore deep waters within Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, around the Cook Islands Marine Park; and the high seas. Throughout the expedition, they are using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the seafloor and video streams from the ROVs are being transmitted via satellite from ship to shore. This means anyone with an Internet connection – including YOU! – can tune in LIVE with scientists from around the world, sharing an unprecedented glimpse of never-seen-before deep marine habitats.
During the expedition, they expect to encounter large, diverse coral and sponge communities; uncover important deep-sea ecosystems; 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 appropriately use and protect what we know as well as what we have yet to discover.
Scott, Del, Michael, and Kasey have all participated in numerous deep-ocean exploration missions and on May 1, they will be on Reddit from 2:00 pm ET to 4:00 pm ET to answer your questions about the current expedition or ocean exploration in general...Ask Them Anything!
When: May 1, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT
Where: Reddit Science AMA Series
