Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping

(EX2304)

Expedition Features

These expedition features provide updates and reflections on experiences, science, technology, and other elements of the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition.

Expedition Summary

September 29, 2023

From July 14 - July 25, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners conducted the third in a series of Seascape Alaska expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Over the course of 12 days at sea, the team conducted 6 full remotely operated vehicle dives, mapped nearly 16,000 square kilometers (6,180 square miles), and collected a variety of biological and geological samples.

Crossing Ocean Basins - Communicating Deep-Sea Exploration Across the Globe

August 18, 2023

When Rhian Waller, a researcher at the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory in Sweden, joined the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition as the biology science lead, Tjärnö Aquarium created a new exhibit to allow aquarium visitors to dive deep into the expedition and connect with science across the globe.

United Nations Ocean Decade Endorses Seascape Alaska

August 8, 2023

Congratulations to Seascape Alaska! The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recently endorsed this important regional mapping campaign as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (Ocean Decade), in part for its contributions to The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project.

An Introduction to the Geology of the Aleutian Islands

July 25, 2023

Ocean exploration is vital for mapping and characterizing geologic features and biologic communities in the ocean, some of which have not been previously described. However, the impacts of ocean exploration extend well beyond the ocean, with impacts reaching to rock layers in the high mountains and deep subsurface. By investigating modern tectonic margins and deep-ocean environments, we improve interpretations of ancient rock layers that record the geologic history of our planet.

Newly Discovered Aleutian Margin Cold Seeps Host Gas Hydrate and Dense Colonies of Tubeworms

July 24, 2023

Dive 04 of Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition took place on July 18, 2023. During the dive, we explored Aleutian arc cold seeps (Sanak seeps) that were discovered only two months earlier during the Seascape 1: Aleutians Deepwater Mapping expedition. Exploration of the Sanak seeps resulted in the discovery of bubble plumes, gas hydrates, thousands of tubeworms, patches of chemosynthetic clams, and special rocks produced by microbial processes.

Dive In To Alaska’s Deep Waters!

July 14, 2023

With its vast wilderness, diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, Alaska is a place of beauty and wonder. But did you know that the deep waters of Alaska hold their own secrets – from fascinating geological features like mud volcanoes and gas seeps to diverse and plentiful marine life, such as corals, sponges, and fish? This summer, prepare to deepen your perspective and join us LIVE for an expedition to explore what lies below the ocean’s surface off Alaska.

Summer Expeditions will Explore Widespread Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Communities in Alaska

July 5, 2023

In 2023, a series of expeditions will help NOAA and partners to better understand the diversity and extent of ecologically important seafloor communities in the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.

NOAA In Alaska

July 3, 2023

While the Seascape Alaska 3: Aleutians Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition marks the first time that NOAA will use telepresence technology to engage scientists and members of the public in dives to explore deep waters off Alaska, NOAA and partners have been conducting research and operations in the Alaska region for years to support the sustainable management and conservation of Alaskan habitats and marine species, coastal community resilience, research and operations, and weather and climate monitoring and forecasts.

New 35mm Still Camera Developed by the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration Brings Greater Resolution to Underwater Images

June 30, 2023

Engineers from the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration have developed a prototype 35mm digital still camera for use on NOAA Ocean Exploration’s deep submergence vehicle Deep Discoverer (D2), allowing for higher, print-quality images underwater.

Expedition Overview

June 22, 2023

From July 14 - July 25, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners will conduct the third in a series of Seascape Alaska expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The major goals of the expedition include mapping, exploring, and characterizing ecologically and economically important deepwater habitats and subduction zone environments in unexplored regions off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.