Gulf of Alaska Images Added to Visual Database
NCEI has expanded the contents of the NOAA Ocean Exploration Benthic Deepwater Animal Identification Guide to include images of marine animals from the Gulf of Alaska. The guide is a collection of in situ images of marine benthic animals (marine animals that live on or near the bottom of the ocean) created from seafloor video taken during NOAA Ocean Exploration expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer using cameras on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer.
From May to September 2023, NOAA and its partners conducted expeditions on Okeanos Explorer in Alaskan waters as part of the Seascape Alaska campaign. These expeditions included mapping, ROV, and autonomous underwater vehicle operations. These efforts collected data to enhance understanding of unexplored and poorly understood deepwater regions offshore Alaska, specifically the Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, and Aleutian Trench. The gathered data will establish a foundational understanding of the explored areas, thereby fostering future research, exploration, and management initiatives.
Almost 500 images of animals from Seascape Alaska 5: Gulf of Alaska Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping have been added to the guide including a variety of sea stars, octopus, anemones, and corals.
A Visual Journey
Scientists estimate that there could be millions of marine species yet to be discovered, despite approximately 242,000 already being listed in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
NOAA Ocean Exploration explores the ocean to fill gaps in basic understanding of the deep-ocean environment, including benthic animals. During expeditions on Okeanos Explorer, they explore the deep with ROV Deep Discoverer, which can dive to depths of nearly four miles and withstand pressures almost 600 times greater than sea level. Deep Discoverer provides scientists with high-quality imagery and environmental data that give valuable insights into complex underwater ecosystems.
The Benthic Deepwater Animal Identification Guide, developed by NCEI with expert guidance from Dr. Christopher Kelley of the University of Hawaii, features over 5,000 images of marine benthic animals. This guide includes high-resolution images of marine benthic animals captured from video recorded during specific NOAA Ocean Exploration expeditions on Okeanos Explorer:
- Expeditions in the North and South Pacific during the Campaign to Address Pacific monument Science, Technology, and Ocean NEeds (CAPSTONE).
- An expedition to the New England Seamounts and along the North American continental margin during the Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE) campaign.
- An expedition in the Gulf of Alaska during the Seascape Alaska campaign in 2023.
Users can search this guide by keyword, depth, and location, and it is organized by major taxa. Information for each animal, to the extent known, includes taxonomic name (phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species); location of observation (latitude and longitude, depth, ocean, region, locality—e.g., seafloor feature); temperature, salinity, and oxygen content at the time and location of observation; and a link to the landing page of the dive during which it was seen.
Deep-Sea Discoveries
Even though it was created for scientists, the Benthic Deepwater Animal Identification Guide is easy enough for anyone to use for learning about life in the deep sea. ROV imagery and data have enabled scientists to identify previously unknown animals. Many new species and genera (groups of species that are closely related) have been discovered during these expeditions, including seastars, corals, and sponges. Each discovery offers potential benefits, including in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Many marine animals produce natural products, some of which scientists have proven useful in fighting human diseases.
Discover additional products developed by the NOAA Ocean Exploration Data Management Team at NCEI. NCEI performs cutting-edge end-to-end data management for NOAA Ocean Exploration-sponsored missions, partnerships, and projects, including expeditions aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.
