Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
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Deep sea areas support unique ecosystems and are sources for energy and minerals. Exploring and mapping the oceans will help us fill gaps to better understand planetary-scale processes including tectonics and marine hazards; energy, mineral and biological resources; and other large-scale Earth systems. Improved knowledge of the deep sea will help us sustainably manage and use ocean resources.
News
Exploring the Unknown in the Deep North Atlantic Ocean
Learning more about international waters, or the "high seas," and other unexplored deepwater areas through exploration is critical to ensuring they are collectively and sustainably managed for the good of the planet.
2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Expedition
At 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Wednesday, July 14, you are invited to join a live event introducing the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts expedition.
Critical Minerals in the EEZ
For centuries, people have crossed oceans in search of valuable minerals. In recent times, though, increasing attention has been paid to the oceans themselves for their mineral potential, especially rock formations on the seafloor.
Publications
Extent of impact of deep-sea nodule mining midwater plumes is influenced by sediment loading, turbulence and thresholds
Deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining research activity has substantially increased in recent years, but the expected level of environmental impact is still being established. One environmental concern is the discharge of a sediment plume into the midwater column. We performed a dedicated field study using sediment from the Clarion Clipperton...
Munoz-Royo, Carlos; Peacock, Thomas; Alford, Matthew; Smith, Jerome; Le Boyer, Arnaud; Kulkarni, Chinmay; Lermusiaux, Pierre; Haley, Patrick; Mirabito, C; Wang, Dayang; Adams, Eric; Ouillon, Raphael; Breugem, Alexander; Decrop, Boudewijn; Lanckreit, Thijs; Supekar, Rohit; Rzeznik, Andrew; Gartman, Amy; Se-Jong Ju Multiple melt source origin of the Line Islands (Pacific Ocean)
The Line Islands volcanic chain in the central Pacific Ocean exhibits many characteristics of a hotspot-generated seamount chain; however, the lack of a predictable age progression has stymied previous models for the origin of this feature. We combined plate-tectonic reconstructions with seamount age dates and available geochemistry to develop a...
Pockalny, Robert; Barth, Ginger; Eakins, Barry; Kelley, Katherine A.; Wertman, Christina Timing of iceberg scours and massive ice-rafting events in the subtropical North Atlantic
High resolution seafloor mapping shows extraordinary evidence that massive (>300 m thick) icebergs once drifted >5,000 km south along the eastern United States, with >700 iceberg scours now identified south of Cape Hatteras. Here we report on sediment cores collected from several buried scours that show multiple plow marks align with...
Condron, Alan; Hill, Jenna C.