Introduction By Nicole A. Raineault, William Mowitt, and Victor Zykov
This annual ocean exploration supplement to Oceanography
presents highlights of the latest field season for three vessels
that investigate the world ocean: Ocean Exploration Trust’s
Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, NOAA Ship Okeanos
Explorer, and Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Research Vessel
(R/V) Falkor. In 2017, work continued in the Pacific Ocean—
with Falkor in the southern and western Pacific, Okeanos
Explorer in the central Pacific, and Nautilus in the eastern
Pacific, including Mexican waters for the first time. Late in
2017, after three years exploring the Pacific, Okeanos Explorer
moved east into the Gulf of Mexico. Summaries of these
expeditions describe new discoveries, advancements in ocean
exploration technology, and outreach efforts aimed at all who
are interested in the ocean’s secrets.
Continuing its mission of ocean exploration, innova-
tion, and education, Nautilus embarked on its eighth field
season in 2017. Part 1 of this supplement begins with a
catalog of Nautilus’s technical capabilities (pages 8–13), as
well as descriptions of new techniques and results of sample
collection and analysis (pages 14–15). Next, we describe
the global efforts of the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to
increase interest and literacy in STEM fields through a vari-
ety of programs and development of educational materials
(pages 16–23). Finally, we report on the early discoveries made
during the 2017 field season, which explored geology, biology,
and archaeology off the west coast of North America, from
British Columbia to the Gulf of California and Revillagigedo
Archipelago (pages 28–45). Four of the 14 cruises focused on
mapping the seafloor—a critical first step in characterizing
ocean regions and supplying baseline data needed for future,
more detailed explorations (pages 26–27). In addition, several
of the 14 cruises were undertaken in partnership with the
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; the results of
these joint efforts support NOAA priorities in the region. The
Nautilus team looks forward to expanding these and other
relationships in 2018 and beyond.
Part 2 of this supplement focuses on the advances and
accomplishments of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, America’s
only federal ship dedicated to ocean exploration. The ship
recently completed surveys that contribute to the Campaign
to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean
NEeds (CAPSTONE), as well as other exploratory efforts by
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER).
The OER section begins with the results of CAPSTONE
(pages 48–53), including work in maritime archaeology
(page 54), and introduces the capabilities of Okeanos Explorer
(page 55). A description of innovations in ocean exploration
follows, including ocean mapping, mid water column explo-
ration, and the rich data source that video footage provides
(pages 56–67). Next comes a review of OER’s continuing
commitment to encourage the next generation of ocean