EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems

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In response to Section 2 of the Presidential Memorandum (PM) on Ocean Mapping of November 19, 2019, the National Strategy for mapping, exploring, and characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has been established. EXPRESS (Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems) activities focus on the Pacific EEZ. In particular, the unique partnership of EXPRESS allows federal and non-federal entities to collaborate in identified priority areas. These are directly aligned to the National Strategy outlined by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Council on Environmental Quality.

EXPRESS partners include NOAA, BOEM, USGS, MBARI, and USC Sea Grant.

Priorities

• Extend bathymetry and backscatter coverage to high priority areas
• Create a seamless map with benthic habitat classifications for targeted regions
• Locate and characterize deep sea coral, sponge, and chemosynthetic communities, including associated fish populations
• Identify underwater geological hazards and evaluate their potential for generating tsunamis
• Investigate deep-sea minerals of potential industry interest
• Use the complementary capabilities of federal assets to produce integrated datasets
• Provide a foundation of publicly accessible data and information to spur further exploration, research, and management
• Engage a broad cross-section of the scientific community and the public

Fieldwork

EXPRESS partners have completed several research cruises using ships from NOAA, university, and non-profit oceanographic research institutions. More cruises are planned and under discussion. Every participating organization has contributed resources including ships, instruments, and personnel.

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Completed Research Cruises

Partners

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NOAA, BOEM, and USGS are the primary EXPRESS partners. Other partners include MBARI and USC Sea Grant.

Federal Partners

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• National Ocean Service (NOS) – Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Office of Coast Survey
• NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) – Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program
• Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR) – Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
• National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) – National Centers for Environmental Information
• Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)

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Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM):

• Pacific Region
• Environmental Studies Program

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

• Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC)
• Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)

Non-Federal Partners

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration (GFOE)

University of Southern California Sea Grant (USC Sea Grant)

Planning Workshop, November 29-30, 2018

Core EXPRESS participants held a planning workshop at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California. Attendees discussed objectives, refined priorities for future work, and reviewed accomplishments to date.

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Virtual Workshop to Identify National Ocean Exploration Priorities in the Pacific, July-September 2020

In partnership with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), the Consortium for Ocean Leadership organized the Workshop to Identify National Ocean Exploration Priorities in the Pacific. This workshop was hosted virtually. A virtual opening plenary was held on July 10, 2020. A series of virtual breakout sessions were held in July and August 2020, and a virtual closing plenary was held on September 21 and 22, 2020.