Current Status
In Transit
Ship Location
Mariana Archipelago
Live Data
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ROV Hercules Depth
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ROV (Towsled) Atalanta Depth
Water Temperature
Ship Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Angle
Current Watch
Watch Leader
Watch Leader
Scientist
Scientist
Data Logger
Data Logger
Hercules Pilot
Hercules Pilot
Atalanta Pilot
Atalanta Pilot
Navigator
Navigator
Video Engineer
Video Engineer
Communications
Communications
Recent Posts
Credit
Ocean Exploration Trust
For the next few days, we'll be diving with Orpheus Ocean's Orpheus AUV on the abyssal plain habitat east of the Mariana Trench. These underwater plains are found from 3,000 to 6,000 meters deep, covering about 70% of the ocean floor. Although they are one of the most significant habitats on Earth, abyssal plains remain some of the least explored parts of the planet, due to their extreme depths. To date, there have been no dives to explore the abyssal plain in the Mariana Archipelago.
Credit
Ocean Exploration Trust
Last night we passed over the Mariana Trench, which is so deep that even our sonars can't map it!
Credit
NOAA Ocean Exploration
Sailing onboard E/V Nautilus for the first time during this NA171 expedition is the Orpheus AUV, built and operated by Orpheus Ocean. The Orpheus AUV will allow the team to explore the abyssal seafloor at depths up to 6,000 meters, which has to date been virtually unexplored around the Mariana Islands. During missions, Orpheus AUVs operate near or on the seafloor, performing high-resolution camera surveys as well as water and seafloor sampling tasks.
Expedition Partners
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