Ecosystems: EXPRESS
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research
Learn how our multi-agency team is mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States.
EXPRESS geonarrativeThe EXPRESS Campaign
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.
Expanding Pacific Research & Exploration of Submerged Systems: EXPRESS
Science Center Objects
The continental shelf and slope offshore California, Oregon, and Washington are home to deep-sea corals, chemosynthetic communities, and other sensitive habitats that could be impacted by the development of energy and mineral resources. The EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems) campaign will map and characterize these special areas to help guide ocean management decisions.
USGS research oceanographer Nancy Prouty and a team of water chemistry specialists collected water column samples from several deep-sea locations off Washington, Oregon, and California.
The potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on the human, coastal and marine environments must be evaluated in order to make environmentally sound decisions about managing energy and mining activities and developing mitigation measures. EXPRESS will explore, map, and measure regions of interest on the U.S. west coast outer continental shelf in order to improve computer models of benthic habitats.
EXPRESS priorities that contribute to ecosystem assessments include:
- Locate and characterize deep sea coral, sponge, and chemosynthetic communities, including associated fish populations
- Create a seamless map with benthic habitat classifications for targeted regions
- Extend bathymetry and backscatter coverage to high priority areas
USGS scientist Nancy Prouty (left) recovers coral samples from ROV SuBastian while British Geological Survey scientist Diana Sahy looks on. (Courtesy of Schmidt Ocean Institute)
For more information, explore our geonarrative:
“Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research: multi-agency team mapping uncharted waters and exploring deep-sea ecosystems off the west coast of the United States”
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
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. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.
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Date published: September 2, 2021Status: ActiveEcosystems: EXPRESS
The continental shelf and slope offshore California, Oregon, and Washington are home to deep-sea corals, chemosynthetic communities, and other sensitive habitats that could be impacted by the development of energy and mineral resources. The EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems) campaign will map and characterize these special areas to help guide ocean...
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: August 23, 2021Status: ActiveHazards: EXPRESS
Marine geohazards including earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis lie offshore of densely populated areas of California, Oregon, and Washington. One goal of EXPRESS is to improve assessments of these hazards.
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: August 23, 2021Status: ActiveResources: EXPRESS
Along the U.S. west coast, the Pacific Ocean, ocean floor, and winds above contain potentially vast energy and mineral resources. Developing these resources safely and wisely requires detailed information for each area of interest. One goal of EXPRESS is to inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions.
Contacts: Danny Brothers, Nancy Prouty -
Date published: November 12, 2020Status: ActiveSediment Lab Suite and Carbon Analysis Lab
At our Science Center, we have a suite of laboratories that we affectionately call the "sed lab." The sed lab really consists of 5 labs, arranged next to each other to allow our lab technicians to easily move back and forth between them while processing sediment samples: Sediment Preparation Lab, Fine Particle Analysis Lab, Settling Tubes Lab, Fume Hood Lab, and Carbon Analysis Lab.
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Date published: November 12, 2020Status: ActiveCore Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories
We process and analyze sediment cores collected from coastal, fluvial, estuarine, lacustrine, and marine environments. We have a Geotek core splitter, shrink wrap system, and a wide assortment of sampling tools and balances for core sample preparation and analysis. We store the cores, along with other sediment samples, in a large, walk-in refrigerated room that features library-style rolling...
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Date published: September 9, 2020Status: ActiveUSGS Role in DEEP SEARCH: Deep Sea Exploration to Advance Research on Coral, Canyon, and Cold-seep Habitats
USGS scientists are collaborating with multiple agencies to provide the esssential foundation for understanding these deep-sea environments.
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Date published: September 4, 2019Status: ActiveDISCOVRE Research Expeditions
The DISCOVRE program involves expeditions around the world to collect the necessary data to better understand deep-sea ecosystems.
Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center -
Date published: August 30, 2019Status: ActiveDISCOVRE: Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems
DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is an integrated, multidisciplinary, international effort investigating the unique and fragile deep-sea coral environments from the microscopic level to the ecosystem level.
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Date published: June 19, 2019Status: ActiveSeeking the Seeps
From June 12 to July 3, 2019, the USGS sailed onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor with several other partners, seeking methane seeps along the seafloor of several underwater canyons off the coast of Oregon and Washington. On this cruise, USGS scientists will seek to understand how much methane is coming out of these seeps, how it travels through the water column, and its...
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Expanding the repertoire of electron acceptors for the anaerobic oxidation of methane in carbonates in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
Authigenic carbonates represent a significant microbial sink for methane, yet little is known about the microbiome responsible for the methane removal. We identify carbonate microbiomes distributed over 21 locations hosted by seven different cold seeps in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by carrying out a gene-based survey using 16S rRNA- and ...
Beckmann, Sabrina; Farag, Ibrahim F.; Zhao, Rui; Christman, Glenn; Prouty, Nancy G.; Biddle, Jennifer F.-
Date published: September 2, 2021CTD profiles and discrete water-column measurements collected off California and Oregon during NOAA cruise SH-18-12 (USGS field activity 2018-663-FA) from October to November 2018 (ver. 2.0, September 2021)
Various water column variables, including CTD (Conductivity Temperature Depth) data were measured at selected depths from sites offshore of California and Oregon from October to November 2018 during NOAA cruise SH-18-12 on R/V Bell M. Shimada (USGS field activity 2018-663-FA).
Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research
Less than 20% of the world's oceans have been explored. A global initiative seeks to change that, by pledging to complete detailed mapping of 10% of the seafloor by the year 2030. The United States is contributing to this effort in part through a collaborative team of federal, state, and nongovernment organizations to map, explore, and characterize waters along the US Pacific coast...
Mounted Niskin Bottles
The two Niskin bottles used to collect deep-sea water samples are mounted to the bottom of ROV Jason and can be triggered by the ROV’s manipulator arms.
Squat-lobster Eumunida picta
The bright red squat-lobster (Eumunida picta) is often seen among the live coral colonies, with their arms raised to grab anything edible that passes by.
Deep-sea organisms
A composite of images of deep-pelagic organisms.
Deepwater Canyons 2013
Blackbelly rosefish – these striking fish are fairly common in the rocky canyon habitats. Related to scorpionfish, the blackbelly rosefish is an ambush hunter and possesses venomous dorsal spines to deter predators. Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS.
Deepwater Canyons 2013
A squat lobster makes its home among various deep-sea corals. Though most galatheoids share a similar body structure and general appearance, there are many different species. Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS.
Deepwater Canyons 2013
Close-up of a crinoid attached to bubblegum coral (Paragorgia). The coral’s polyps are extended in feeding position. Both animals capture small organisms and organic matter in the water column as it drifts by. Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS.
Deepwater Canyons 2013
The Woods Hole crew hoists Jason into the water for its first dive on Norfolk Canyon. Image courtesy of Deepwater Canyons 2013 - Pathways to the Abyss, NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS.
Retrieving samples from a CTD
USGS scientist Nancy Prouty collects samples from a CTD. A CTD is package of electronic instruments that measure conductivity, temperature, and depth of water.
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Date published: June 22, 2020Special Issue of Sound Waves Focuses on Deep-Sea Research
2019 was a big year for deep-sea expeditions, and USGS was pleased to be a partner supporting our Nation in advancing our knowledge about these remote and unexplored areas of the Earth. In honor of National Ocean Month, we highlight USGS research from the deep sea.
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Date published: June 22, 2020Seafloor Methane Seeps at the Edge of Hydrate Stability
In June 2019, USGS scientists led a 22-day deep-sea research expedition aboard the R/V Falkor to examine methane seep dynamics and processes along the Cascadia Margin offshore of Washington and Oregon.
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Date published: June 22, 2020EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems - Interagency Collaborative Efforts Explore Deep Ocean Areas
As state and national interest in offshore renewable energy development and substantial commercial and recreational fishing activities grows, managing offshore habitats becomes increasingly challenging. In response, USGS and BOEM have joined NOAA and several non-Federal partners to initiate...
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Date published: October 16, 2019WaterWords-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
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Date published: October 16, 2019WaterWords-Remotely Operated Vehicle
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
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Date published: October 16, 2019WaterWords-Deep Sea
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
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Date published: August 7, 2019Federal scientists from three agencies meet to discuss critical marine minerals
On July 30 and 31, the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted an “Exploratory Interagency Critical Marine Minerals Discussion” in Santa Cruz, California.
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Date published: July 3, 2019Bringing the Bubbles Home
As our cruise ends, lead scientist Amanda Demopoulos brings it all together and charts the path forward
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Energy & Wildlife, Energy Resources Program, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center -
Date published: June 19, 2019Source of the Seeps
BGS Scientist Diana Sahy and USGS Scientist Nancy Prouty give us the low-down on where these rocks we've been seeing are coming from and, in the process, reveal where the seeps themselves originate.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center