Windows To The Deep 2019

[OceanBreeze]

Just a quick update on what the exploration vessel Okeanos Explorer has been doing and what lies ahead.

 

The current exploration expedition goes by the name: Deep Connections 2019: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts of the United States and Canada expedition.

 

From August 6 through August 20, 2019, NOAA and partners completed 24-hour-a-day mapping operations using the ship’s deepwater mapping systems (Kongsberg EM 302 multibeam sonar, Simrad EK 60 and EK 80 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers) to collect baseline seafloor and water column data.This was the first leg of a two part exploration of poorly understood deepwater areas of the U.S. and Canadian, Atlantic continental margin.

 

The team mapped a very impressive 18,600 square kilometers (7,180 square miles), of ocean floor, with the majority collected in submarine canyons off the coast of New England and Canada.

 

Since August 20, the ship has been berthed at Dartmouth Port, Nova Scotia Canada.

 

But the real fun and interesting second leg of our current expedition is just about to get underway!

 

From August 26 through September 15, 2019 Leg 2 will include remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations using NOAA's dual-body ROV capable of diving to depths of 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) to explore a diversity of poorly known deep seafloor and midwater habitats, as well as unique geological features.

 

Here is where you come in: this leg of the expedition will use the ship’s high-bandwidth satellite connection to engage a broad spectrum of scientists, resource managers, and the public in telepresence-based exploration. You can watch these ROV dives in real time, and join in the fun and thrill of exploration!

 

There may be as many as 19 dives in the 21 days of Leg 2, depending of course on conditions, so it could be a very busy and exciting expedition.

 

I hope you will join us. The live stream links are the same as before:

 

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/livestreams/camera3.html

 

Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

[exchemist]

Just a quick update on what the exploration vessel Okeanos Explorer has been doing and what lies ahead.

 

The current exploration expedition goes by the name: Deep Connections 2019: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts of the United States and Canada expedition.

 

From August 6 through August 20, 2019, NOAA and partners completed 24-hour-a-day mapping operations using the ship’s deepwater mapping systems (Kongsberg EM 302 multibeam sonar, Simrad EK 60 and EK 80 split-beam fisheries sonars, Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar, and Teledyne Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers) to collect baseline seafloor and water column data.This was the first leg of a two part exploration of poorly understood deepwater areas of the U.S. and Canadian, Atlantic continental margin.

 

The team mapped a very impressive 18,600 square kilometers (7,180 square miles), of ocean floor, with the majority collected in submarine canyons off the coast of New England and Canada.

 

Since August 20, the ship has been berthed at Dartmouth Port, Nova Scotia Canada.

 

But the real fun and interesting second leg of our current expedition is just about to get underway!

 

From August 26 through September 15, 2019 Leg 2 will include remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations using NOAA's dual-body ROV capable of diving to depths of 6,000 meters (3.7 miles) to explore a diversity of poorly known deep seafloor and midwater habitats, as well as unique geological features.

 

Here is where you come in: this leg of the expedition will use the ship’s high-bandwidth satellite connection to engage a broad spectrum of scientists, resource managers, and the public in telepresence-based exploration. You can watch these ROV dives in real time, and join in the fun and thrill of exploration!

 

There may be as many as 19 dives in the 21 days of Leg 2, depending of course on conditions, so it could be a very busy and exciting expedition.

 

I hope you will join us. The live stream links are the same as before:

 

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/livestreams/camera3.html

 

Thank You!

I'll try to check in from time to time. 

[OceanBreeze]

ROV dives generally begin at 8:30 AM and last until 4:30 PM ET. As the ship moves to the next dive location, overnight mapping operations continue. Note: ET is now EDT. UTC is +4 and London +5.

[OceanBreeze]

Tropical Depression Six, located about 525 kilometres southeast of Cape Hatteras NC, is expected to become Tropical Storm Erin later today. Erin is then expected to begin tracking northeastward toward Atlantic Canada tonight and Wednesday, likely bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of the Maritimes later Thursday and Friday.

 

Since the storm is expected to be near the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia by Friday afternoon, for now the good ship Okeanos Explorer will remain in port until the situation becomes less cloudy. :weather_rain:

 

[OceanBreeze]

We are underway! NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer just departed Halifax to officially start leg 2 of the Deep Connections 2019 expedition. The ship is currently headed towards the Gully Canyon, where we are planning to have our first dive of the mission tomorrow, August 29. That dive will explore the eastern flank of the Gully at depths down to 1190 m for deep-sea corals, sponges, and other benthic organisms.

 

[exchemist]

We are underway! NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer just departed Halifax to officially start leg 2 of the Deep Connections 2019 expedition. The ship is currently headed towards the Gully Canyon, where we are planning to have our first dive of the mission tomorrow, August 29. That dive will explore the eastern flank of the Gully at depths down to 1190 m for deep-sea corals, sponges, and other benthic organisms.

Thanks, I'll try to tune in at some point.

 

At the moment all I see is some Captain Haddock type in a beard, wandering about at the stern of the vessel. :)

[OceanBreeze]

That’s a very real possibility. The ship’s present position, at Oceanographer Canyon off the coast of Mass, will most likely be subjected to tropical-storm-force winds in the coming days. We have our eyes on it and a decision may be made to enter safe harbor in a day or two. This is strictly unofficial. Any official announcement will be posted on the NOAA site.

 

[OceanBreeze]

Now it is Official:

 

No dives on 9/5-9/7 due to Hurricane Dorian

 

Hurricane Dorian is now forecast to start moving northwards, with storm to hurricane force winds predicted to arrive in our expedition’s operating area by Friday 9/6. Therefore, we will pull into port in Rhode Island tomorrow to weather the storm. The plan is to get back underway to finish the rest of the expedition as soon as conditions are safe, which might be as early as Saturday 9/7. However, given the long transit distances, we will definitely not dive on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (9/5-9/7). We will update you as soon as we learn more.

 

(This also explains why I have both time and some Internet bandwidth available to post here. Normally, during the expedition all of the Internet bandwidth is taken up by the telepresence technology)expedition’s operating area by Friday 9/6. Therefore, we will pull into port in Rhode Island tomorrow to weather the storm. The plan is to get back underway to finish the rest of the expedition as soon as conditions are safe, which might be as early as Saturday 9/7. However, given the long transit distances, we will definitely not dive on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (9/5-9/7). We will update you as soon as we learn more.

 

[OceanBreeze]

Nothing much to report. Seas are relatively calm, probably the calm before the storm.

[exchemist]

Now it is Official:

 

No dives on 9/5-9/7 due to Hurricane Dorian

 

Hurricane Dorian is now forecast to start moving northwards, with storm to hurricane force winds predicted to arrive in our expedition’s operating area by Friday 9/6. Therefore, we will pull into port in Rhode Island tomorrow to weather the storm. The plan is to get back underway to finish the rest of the expedition as soon as conditions are safe, which might be as early as Saturday 9/7. However, given the long transit distances, we will definitely not dive on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (9/5-9/7). We will update you as soon as we learn more.

 

(This also explains why I have both time and some Internet bandwidth available to post here. Normally, during the expedition all of the Internet bandwidth is taken up by the telepresence technology)expedition’s operating area by Friday 9/6. Therefore, we will pull into port in Rhode Island tomorrow to weather the storm. The plan is to get back underway to finish the rest of the expedition as soon as conditions are safe, which might be as early as Saturday 9/7. However, given the long transit distances, we will definitely not dive on Thursday, Friday or Saturday (9/5-9/7). We will update you as soon as we learn more.

I've been enjoying some of the underwater camera footage. There seem to be a lot of squid, or cuttlefish, about. And there was a thing that I took to be a sort of langoustine, but they were calling it a lobster.  Anyway, hope to see more when operations resume after the storm passes. :)

Edited September 6, 2019 by exchemist

[OceanBreeze]

I am happy to report, after sitting idle in Norfolk port since March due to the covid-related stoppage of all exploration operations, the good ship Okeanos Explorer has finally set out to sea once again; currently on the way to Pascagoula Mississippi for maintenance and upgrades on all drive systems plus many technology upgrades.

Some of you will also be happy to learn that I will no longer have time to spend here (other than maybe an occasional visit) so have fun and don’t let the spammers bite!

[Vmedvil2]

22 hours ago, OceanBreeze said:

I am happy to report, after sitting idle in Norfolk port since March due to the covid-related stoppage of all exploration operations, the good ship Okeanos Explorer has finally set out to sea once again; currently on the way to Pascagoula Mississippi for maintenance and upgrades on all drive systems plus many technology upgrades.

Some of you will also be happy to learn that I will no longer have time to spend here (other than maybe an occasional visit) so have fun and don’t let the spammers bite!

Oh no, superpolymath's invasions may not be stopped.

Edited October 22, 2020 by VictorMedvil

[OceanBreeze]

Dodging Hurricane Zeta has made this trip more interesting than anyone anticipated but Okeanos is finally on the home stretch to Pascagoula Port.