Exploring Alaska's Seamounts on RV Atlantis in North							Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska between 20040730 and							20040823

Five seamounts (Denson, Dickins, Pratt, Welker and Giacomini)
					in the Gulf of Alaska that had not previously been observed by manned
					submersible or ROV were thoroughly mapped with multi-beaming and their fauna
					explored by a scientific party of 25 participating in the 2004 Gulf of Alaska
					Seamount Expedition. An estimated 43 coral species and 21 sponge species were
					collected and identified from 17 dives made by the DSV ALVIN on 5 seamounts. A
					large number of coral specimens were processed and packaged and sent the
					National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution upon disembarkation.
					Faunal assemblages on the corals included species from 12 different phyla and a
					large number (hundreds) of lesser taxa. Many of these species represent
					significant range extensions or records of undescribed species, but await
					post-cruise processing for identification and clarification. Plasma and tissue
					samples for genetic and physiological examination were collected from >120 crab
					specimens belonging to a number of species; tissue samples were collected from
					>130 shrimp for genetic studies. Samples of 62 coral specimens (22 bamboo, 15
					paragorgid, 19 primnoid, 7 black, 23 other), 13 sponge specimens, and 36 water
					samples were collected for genomic studies of bacterial communities. 58 basaltic
					rocks were collected for geological studies and 4 rocks were collected for
					microbiological studies. Detailed mapping of the study area resulted in 14081
					km2 of seamounts multibeamed, plus 9000 km2 of seafloor mapped while in transit,
					equaling 23081 km2 of total seafloor mapped. Education and outreach activities
					associated with the 2004 Gulf of Alaska Seamount Expedition were extensive, and
					included an NOAA Ocean Explorer Web site; lesson plans; a Professional
					Development Institutes (PDI) for Educators; 5 interactive satellite telephone
					calls to schools or institutes, which included conversations with scientists in
					situ aboard the Alvin; an Educator at Sea (Carey DeLauder, UCAP Science
					Teacher); nine undergradute and graduate students, a Dean John A. Knauss Sea
					Grant Fellow (Nicholas Alvarado), and a MATE Intern (Shinobu Okano) participated
					in the cruise; and, a media event at the termination of the cruise was held in
					Astoria, Oregon for public school teachers, newspaper, radio and television
					reporters. All aspects of the cruise were well documented, and all dives were
					designed to be multipurpose and collect data for all participants. The cruise
					was a resounding success and will produce a multitude of scientific
					discoveries.

Tags: acoustic scattering, bathymetry, bathymetry/seafloor topography, conductivity, corals, ctd, depth, echo sounders, expedition, expendable bathythermograph, exploration, explorer, geology, gulf of alaska, marine education, mbes, multibeam mapping system, noaa, north pacific ocean, ocean, ocean acoustics, ocean discovery, ocean education, ocean exploration, ocean exploration and research, ocean literacy, ocean research, oceans, oer, research, science, scientific mission, scientific research, sea, seamounts, sponges, stewardship, systematic exploration, technology, temperature, transformational research, undersea, underwater, underwater exploration, volcanic, xbt
Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce