Contents
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
From Pole to Pole: Connecting Explorers Across the Globe .............................................................................................................................................................4
2019 Expedition Overview Map ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
PART 1. OCEAN EXPLORATION TRUST – E/V NAUTILUS .............................................................................................................................................8
Technology ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Wet Lab Renovations and Selected 2019 Specimen Highlights................................................................................................................................................18
Illuminating STEM Career Pathways and Deep-Sea Discoveries Through Nautilus Exploration and Outreach .................................22
Nautilus Field Season Overview ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................28
» E/V Nautilus 2019 Mapping: Filling the Gaps in Seafloor Coverage of the Remote Pacific and
Contributing to Global Seabed Mapping Initiatives ......................................................................................................................................................................30
» Searching for Shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary ...........................................................................................................................32
» Sea Caves of the Channel Islands ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
» SUBSEA 2019 Expedition to the Gorda Ridge ......................................................................................................................................................................................36
» Deepwater Exploration of Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Jarvis Island:
Geological and Biological Discoveries from the US Line Islands .........................................................................................................................................38
» The Search for Samoan Clipper .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................40
» Expedition to the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa:
Exploring the Deep Sea in the American Samoa Archipelago ..............................................................................................................................................42
» Expedition Amelia ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44
» Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument:
Exploring the Howland and Baker Island Unit and Johnston Atoll Unit ........................................................................................................................46
» Exploring Northern California National Marine Sanctuaries ...................................................................................................................................................48
» Octopus Gardens and a Whale Fall in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary .................................................................................................50
» E/V Nautilus 2021–2023 Pacific Field Proposal Under the New NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute .................52
PART 2. NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH ............................................................................................................54
2019 Expeditions with NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer .........................................................................................................................................................................56
Exploring America’s Deep Ocean ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................59
Deep-Sea Data Needs Addressed by the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research ............................................................................60
Deep-Sea Discoveries in the Mysterious Midwater ..............................................................................................................................................................................62
ASPIRE Explores Atlantic Margin, Prepares for Mid-Atlantic Ridge Expedition .............................................................................................................64
Okeanos Explorer Finds Shipwreck During Shakedown Cruise ...................................................................................................................................................65
Insights from Windows to the Deep 2019: Deep-Sea Corals, Submarine Hazards, and Methane Seeps ................................................66
New Ocean Technologies Prove Themselves at Sea, Discover World War II Shipwreck .........................................................................................68
OER-ONC Collaboration to Improve Video Annotations .................................................................................................................................................................70
New Regions Explored During the Deep Connections 2019 Expedition ...........................................................................................................................71
Playing FAIR: Enabling Ocean Exploration Through Open Data Sharing ...........................................................................................................................74
Deep Ocean Mapping in Support of Exploration: Identifying and Filling Gaps in Bathymetric Coverage
in US Waters Deeper than 200 m ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................78
DEEP SEARCH Project Completes Last Year of Fieldwork with Two Successful Expeditions ..............................................................................81
EXPRESS: EXpanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems ........................................................................................................83
Telepresence 2.0: Connecting Scientists and the Public to the Undersea World ........................................................................................................84
Engagement: Access, Experience, and Knowledge ..............................................................................................................................................................................85
» Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................85
» Demonstrating NOAA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion....................................................................................................................88