The second section of this supplement features NOAA
Ocean Exploration’s 2021 season, with the pace and effi-
ciency of mapping operations increasing, and Okeanos
Explorer becoming the first ship in the world to receive a
complete upgrade to Kongsberg’s new EM 304 multibeam
sonar (page 44). Season highlights include the exploration
of Blake Plateau off the coast of the southeastern United
States (page 44), when NOAA Ocean Exploration marked
the mapping of 2,000,000 km2 of seafloor since Okeanos
Explorer was commissioned in 2008. A pilot project to
process mapping data in the cloud created an environ-
ment in which simultaneous work on data could occur
from anywhere in the world (page 44). Highlights from the
North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition are presented
(page 46), and there is an overview of ROV operations and
how they inform exploration, as well as a brief description of
discoveries, including the first visual confirmation of ferro-
manganese nodule fields in the New England Seamount
Chain (page 46). NOAA Ocean Exploration moved on to
investigate the Blake Spur where rich sponge gardens
were revealed (page 46), before discovering and exploring
SS Bloody Marsh, a World War II-era oil tanker sunk off the
coast of South Carolina by a German U-boat (page 46).
NOAA Ocean Exploration support for advancing technol-
ogy is featured, describing emerging tools such as ’omics as
well as testing and deployment of two autonomous sensor
platforms. An update on DriX, a technology the OECI is
developing, is included. An overview of maritime heritage
work highlights the discovery, with “reasonable certainty,”
of US Revenue Cutter Bear following a nearly two-decade
search for this historically significant ship of exploration
(page 48). This section of the supplement concludes
with a summary of NOAA Ocean Exploration’s expanded
diversity and inclusivity efforts during the year (page 49)
before turning to outreach and education endeavors that
included a “brand refresh,” a new education website, and an
expansion of internship opportunities (page 50).
In 2021, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor
traveled across the Pacific, then made its way back to the
Atlantic to prepare for passing the baton to the newly
acquired research vessel Falkor (too) and marking a new era
of oceanographic research and evolution for the institute.
The final section of the supplement reviews an extraordi-
nary year for SOI activities, including the seven expeditions
that took place in Australian waters and beyond, as well as
the institute’s Artist-at-Sea program and growing partner-
ships activities (pages 52–61).
A key part of all three organizational missions is shar-
ing research and expeditions with students, educators,
and the general public through collaborations that allow
all partners to amplify their work. OECI, a consortium of
five organizations that work together to advance ocean
exploration technology and training in concert with NOAA
Ocean Exploration, moved forward into its third year
with operations and educational outreach (pages 62–63).
Over the last two years, NOAA Ocean Exploration, the
Ocean Exploration Trust, and Schmidt Ocean Institute
collaborated to build a single online hub for ocean science
and exploration-themed educational resources, which
launched in summer 2021 (pages 64–65). Collaborating
across the ocean exploration field, the Inner Space Center
at the University of Rhode Island supports professional
development, online learning, and live event programming
(pages 66–67).
Looking ahead at 2022, the Ocean Exploration Trust
will continue to build upon partnerships and research
from E/V Nautilus within the Central Pacific, particularly
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. During
summer 2022, NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Okeanos Explorer
will work along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and then transit to
the Panama Canal, crossing into the Pacific in August to
begin exploration off the US West Coast. The year will bring
a sea change for Schmidt Ocean Institute, with delivery of
Falkor (too) in fall 2022. We all look forward to continuing to
explore the ocean and to connecting diverse communities
with the deepest parts of our planet (pages 68–69).