An associate professor of biology at the 小蝌蚪APP is leading a scientific expedition that小蝌蚪APP檚 exploring a series of underwater slopes and canyons off the coast of Cape Cod.
Dr. Scott France and other researchers are studying the New England Seamount chain, which extends about 700 miles to the southeast and consists of more than 30 volcanic peaks. The underwater mountains are dotted with holes and tunnels that provide habitat for a range of species, but are largely unexplored. It is the largest seamount chain in the North Atlantic.
The expedition is being carried out to map underwater topography and to study underwater geological features, marine biology and ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is funding the expedition, which began in August and is scheduled to end Oct. 7.
France, a marine biologist and oceanographer, is aboard the Okeanos Explorer. The 225-foot-long ship is owned by the U.S. government and used for NOAA exploration. It小蝌蚪APP檚 outfitted with a sonar mapping system and carries a submersible, remotely operated vehicle, that can explore underwater terrain thousands of feet deep. The ROV, which is tethered to the Explorer via a long fiber-optic cable, transmits operator commands, video and electrical power. It also captures and transmits high-definition video in real time.
小蝌蚪APP淪ome of the things you see are jaw-dropping. You feel lucky, because some of the places have never been seen before,小蝌蚪APP said France in a recent interview. He has participated in similar expeditions in the British Virgin Islands and Hawaii.
France is one of two scientists who guide the underwater vehicle小蝌蚪APP檚 movements, based on input from other scientists. He is leading biological exploration, while a marine geologist from Oregon State 小蝌蚪APP is leading geological exploration.
小蝌蚪APP淲e will guide the vehicle, explain to viewers what they are seeing, and answer questions that come in from scientists,小蝌蚪APP he said. France likens his role to that of a ground controller communicating with astronauts. 小蝌蚪APP淲e小蝌蚪APP檙e the conduit between the onshore scientists and what小蝌蚪APP檚 happening at sea.小蝌蚪APP
Video, photos and oceanographic data, such as temperature and depth, will be live-streamed to a team of scientists. Some of the scientists will be stationed at a command center at the 小蝌蚪APP of Rhode Island. Others will access video streams from universities across the United States.
France also will serve as a virtual tour guide for the public, including science students, who can access interactive video feeds and log on to chat rooms at the expedition Web page on the NOAA Web site. 小蝌蚪APP淧art of the overall goal of this expedition is to get the public more engaged in understanding the oceans, and to get children excited about science,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Corals and sponges that grow in abundance in the underwater canyons are of particular interest to France. Stronger currents are funneled through the compressed, V-shaped spaces, scrubbing away soft sediments such as mud, sand, silt and clay. What remains are harder surfaces, such as steep-sided walls, ridges, rocks and boulders to which coral attaches.
France小蝌蚪APP檚 research will focus on how fish use the coral ecosystems for habitat, including as spots to lay eggs and to 小蝌蚪APP渉ide out小蝌蚪APP from predators. 小蝌蚪APP淭he places we小蝌蚪APP檙e targeting have those really steep cliffs with lots of coral communities, and, as scientists, we小蝌蚪APP檙e trying to understand what fish associate with corals.小蝌蚪APP
France said some of his students at the 小蝌蚪APP will access live streams for classroom and lab study. 小蝌蚪APP淭he major interest is biodiversity, essentially why are there so many species in the deep sea,小蝌蚪APP he said. 小蝌蚪APP淭here小蝌蚪APP檚 no sunlight, temperatures are very cold, and there小蝌蚪APP檚 very little food. So my interest is: Why is there so much life down there, and, in terms of corals, how many species are down there?小蝌蚪APP
Learn more about the expedition.