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Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center images.

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Bathymetric map of Escanaba Trough, using data from submersible robot Sentry
Bathymetric map of Escanaba Trough, using data from submersible robot Sentry
Bathymetric map of Escanaba Trough, using data from submersible robot Sentry
Bathymetric map of Escanaba Trough, using data from submersible robot Sentry

A research points to a screen displaying a bathymetric map of Escanaba Trough, using data from the submersible robot Sentry

A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough
A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough
A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough
A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough

During the 2022 Escanaba Trough expedition, the ROV Jason from Wood Holes Oceanographic Institution dove to hydrothermal mounds more than 3,000 meters beneath the ocean surface. Among the diverse organisms found at these sites was a pale lavender deep-sea octopus.

During the 2022 Escanaba Trough expedition, the ROV Jason from Wood Holes Oceanographic Institution dove to hydrothermal mounds more than 3,000 meters beneath the ocean surface. Among the diverse organisms found at these sites was a pale lavender deep-sea octopus.

A ship on the open ocean.
SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer
SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer
SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer

SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer returning from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai caldera in Tonga. Photo courtesy of SEA-KIT International.

SEA-KIT USV Maxlimer returning from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai caldera in Tonga. Photo courtesy of SEA-KIT International.

Sunrise on the island of Ofu, American Samoa
Sunrise on the island of Ofu, American Samoa
Sunrise on the island of Ofu, American Samoa
Sunrise on the island of Ofu, American Samoa

Researchers watch the sun rising over the island of Ofu, American Samoa, during fieldwork in July 2022.

Aerial image of storm waves along a Florida coastline
Reducing Flood Risks by Restoring Coral Reefs - Spanish
Reducing Flood Risks by Restoring Coral Reefs - Spanish
a green and white research boat on the water towing an object with two yellow pontoons
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping

The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.

a river flows through a flat landscape with low vegetation, forested hills in the background
Elwha River, Olympic National Park
Elwha River, Olympic National Park
Elwha River, Olympic National Park

The former Mills reservoir restoration area on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park, WA. This photo taken from the Glines overlook shows the revegetation that has occurred at the former reservoir post-dam removal.

The former Mills reservoir restoration area on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park, WA. This photo taken from the Glines overlook shows the revegetation that has occurred at the former reservoir post-dam removal.

Image showing NOAA research vessel with logos of NOAA, BOEM, USGS and MBARI
EXPRESS video cover image
EXPRESS video cover image
EXPRESS video cover image

Image showing NOAA research vessel with logos of NOAA, BOEM, USGS and MBARI. EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope.

Image showing NOAA research vessel with logos of NOAA, BOEM, USGS and MBARI. EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope.

Graphic showing structure of the ocean floor from beach to deep sea with descriptions
USGS Ocean Research
USGS Ocean Research
USGS Ocean Research

Our coasts, the most familiar part of the ocean are the gateway to the larger deeper ocean world. USGS studies processes and hazards in the coastal zone and how they affect people, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Our coasts, the most familiar part of the ocean are the gateway to the larger deeper ocean world. USGS studies processes and hazards in the coastal zone and how they affect people, wildlife, and ecosystems.

A woman peers at a rock using a hand lens.
Examining rocks from the deep ocean
Examining rocks from the deep ocean
Examining rocks from the deep ocean

Amy Gartman, USGS Research Oceanographer and chief scientist for the Escanaba Trough expedition, examines a mineral sample with a hand lens aboard R/V Thomas G. Thompson.

A man shines a small light on some rock samples.
Examining mineral samples
Examining mineral samples
Examining mineral samples

Tom Lorensen, USGS Physical Scientist, uses an ultraviolet light to examine mineral samples aboard R/V Thomas G. Thompson.

Photo of a shiny, wet-looking gray rock with yellowish coating in spots.
Pyrrhotite-rich massive sulfide
Pyrrhotite-rich massive sulfide
Pyrrhotite-rich massive sulfide

Close-up of fine-grained pyrrhotite-rich massive sulfide. The deep-sea sample was collected from the Escanaba Trough, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Close-up of fine-grained pyrrhotite-rich massive sulfide. The deep-sea sample was collected from the Escanaba Trough, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Close-up photo of rocks that are orange in color with a thin middle section that is shiny metallic.
Iron-oxyhydroxide gossan
Iron-oxyhydroxide gossan
Iron-oxyhydroxide gossan

Iron-oxyhydroxide gossan, formed by weathering of massive sulfide. Dominantly porous orange goethite, with a compact darker to metallic layer of dense goethite.

Iron-oxyhydroxide gossan, formed by weathering of massive sulfide. Dominantly porous orange goethite, with a compact darker to metallic layer of dense goethite.

A cracked piece of rocky crist from the seafloor that reveals the differences between the outside of the crust and its inside
Hydrothermal chimney composed mostly of barite
Hydrothermal chimney composed mostly of barite
Hydrothermal chimney composed mostly of barite

Partially weathered hydrothermal chimney, composed mostly of barite (BaSO4). The white material is the outer weathered rind, where the disseminated sulfide minerals have been leached out by oxidation, leaving an orange iron oxide stain.

Partially weathered hydrothermal chimney, composed mostly of barite (BaSO4). The white material is the outer weathered rind, where the disseminated sulfide minerals have been leached out by oxidation, leaving an orange iron oxide stain.

Two metal mechanical arms each hold a piece of rock from the seafloor with the silty ocean bottom below it.
Remotely operated vehicle collects seafloor rock samples
Remotely operated vehicle collects seafloor rock samples
Remotely operated vehicle collects seafloor rock samples

Two hands are better than one! The versatile, ambidextrous ROV (remotely operated vehicle) Jason collects two mineral samples from the seafloor at Escanaba Trough. Jason's sample collection tubes are visible off to the left.

Photograph of three rocks arranged side-by-side with a plain background.
Fine-grained seafloor massive sulfide
Fine-grained seafloor massive sulfide
Fine-grained seafloor massive sulfide

Close up of fine-grained seafloor massive sulfide under an ultraviolet light source, revealing the minerals that fluoresce under the light.

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