Beyond the Blue: Johnston Atoll Mapping

In August, September, and October, NOAA Ocean Exploration will conduct two expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to map waters deeper than 200 meters (656 feet) in and around the Johnston Atoll Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

During both expeditions, the team will conduct 24-hour-a-day exploratory mapping operations using the ship’s deepwater mapping systems, expendable bathythermographs (XBTs), conductivity, temperature, depth profiler (CTD) casts, and a high-bandwidth satellite connection for continuous ship-to-shore communications via telepresence.

Data collected during the two expeditions will support priority NOAA science and community management needs, helping to establish a baseline assessment of the ocean environment, increase understanding of marine life and habitats to inform management decisions, improve knowledge of past and potential future geohazards, and increase public awareness of ocean issues.

During the expedition, the at-sea team will collect sun photometer measurements in partnership with NASA and acoustic observations of bats offshore in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, three explorer-in-training interns will participate in the second expedition, helping to collect and process sonar data.

All data collected during the two expeditions in and around Johnston Atoll will contribute to Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific, an ocean exploration campaign designed to raise collective knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of coastal and ocean waters in the Pacific Islands region through coordinated mapping and exploration expeditions, data management and sharing, strategic partnerships, and outreach and engagement.

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