The Exploration Vessel Nautilus, operated by Ocean Exploration Trust, conducts science exploration missions all over the world. The Nautilus team surveys the seafloor with dedicated vehicles, Argus and Hercules. The live video is broadcast from the ship to the Inner Space Center. Below are a collection of images from previous expeditions.
Click here to learn more about each of the 2017 Nautilus expeditions!
Revillagigedo Archipelago (NA092)
E/V Nautilus conducted a deeper exploration of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, consisting of the islands of Socorro, Clarion, San Benedicto, Roca Partida and numerous associated seamounts.
Pescadero Basin (NA091)
The science team conducted an integrated biogeochemical exploration of the Pescadero Basin Vents. Nautilus measured and collected vent fluid, rocks, sediment and biological samples to work to answer key questions about geologic processes, biogeochemistry, and biogeography, in the unique geological context of Pescadero Basin.
Gulf of California Guaymas Basin (NA090)
A multidisciplinary study of the GOC will provide rich information on the dynamic environment of a young, diverse, and evolving ocean basin. Particular areas of interest for this Nautilus expedition included the interaction between hydrothermal fluids, organic-rich sediments, and magma, and their impact on seafloor biological communities at a prominent spreading center in the Guaymas Basin.
Heceta Bank (NA087)
Nautilus conducted offshore research activities in two study areas positioned along Oregon’s central coast, including the lower reach of the ancient Umpqua River–one of Oregon’s largest coastal drainages. This project used recent geophysical surveys to collect further baseline multibeam sonar data and subbottom surveys on seafloor morphology and stratigraphy and collect digital imagery to inform when and how Oregon’s past coastal environment evolved toward its modern form.
Quinault Canyon & Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (NA086)
Overall, the objectives were to explore and characterize seafloor resources and features of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary that are associated with three prominent submarine canyons: Quinault Canyon, Quileute Canyon, and Juan de Fuca Canyon. This expedition also visited and documented the wreck of submarine USS Bugara, a maritime heritage site, and conducted multibeam mapping of various priority areas that were identified through a collaborative spatial prioritization process involving more than 15 partner agencies.
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (NA085)
Nautilus visuall surveyed deep-water habitats that have never been explored and characterized habitat, species, and communities. The team collected high-resolution multibeam sonar data to identify hard substrate areas, utilized ROVs to complete initial surveys of new newly-added regions, and collected biological specimens and environmental data. This data collection will help CBNMS to characterize habitats and document distribution and abundance of deep water corals, sponges, and fishes, and contribute to understanding how these communities may be affected by changes in carbonate saturation and dissolved oxygen.
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (NA083)
This cruise is part of a larger initiative to understand sea level history and locate, map, and document submerged paleo-shorelines in the Channel Islands region. Developing maps of the seafloor and characterizing biological habitat and geological character of the seafloor using ROVs provides detailed information that will help guide CINMS resource protection issues including incident response and restoration, protected resource and fisheries management, navigational safety, and conservation.
Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) (NA081)
ONC operates world-leading cabled ocean observatories that supply continuous power and Internet connectivity to a broad suite of subsea instruments that allow scientists to operate instruments remotely and receive data at their home laboratories anywhere on the globe in real time. Each of the NEPTUNE observatory’s five nodes are instrumented with a diverse suite of sensors that enable researchers to study interactions among geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes that drive the dynamic earth-ocean system over a broad spectrum of oceanic environments. Nautilus visited all five nodes along the NEPTUNE observatory: Strait of Juan de Fuca, Barkley Canyon, Clayoquot Slope, Cascadia Basin, and Endeavour Vent Field. The main objectives of this expedition are to provide maintenance and support of the 800 km loop of fiber optic cable that connects nodes along the observatory.
