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The Schmidt Ocean Institute has put its flagship research vessel Falkor through another strenuous test while exploring deep rocky banks south of Texas. The team used one of the most advanced multibeam sonar systems available to map these areas in great detail.
This cruise will focus on the development of safe practices and standard operating procedures for the deployment and operation of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), as well as for the ROV data and video management and distribution onboard.
This final shakedown cruise for the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor was dedicated to a comprehensive study of ecosystems near the site of Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
On July 28th, after making her first passage through the Panama Canal, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s 272-foot research vessel Falkor made its way beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco for the first time.
The very deepest reaches of the sea are one of the planet’s last true frontiers. In November, RV Falkor sailed to the Mariana Trench with a group of biologists and geologists to conduct a new study of one of the deepest places in the world.
December, Falkor returned to the Mariana Trench focusing on collecting trench bacteria, animal samples, and the first-ever recordings of sounds from such depths.
The first ever comprehensive study of the largest, most focused internal tide on the planet, which moves across the Tasman Sea each day. During this expedition, researchers will amass data that will improve general understanding of the phenomenon, as well as the ability to incorporate internal tide effects accurately in climate models.
Perth Canyon is one of Australia’s subsea treasures. Yet many of its deeper reaches remained unexplored, until Falkor’s visit with a deep-diving ROV. This first survey of life in the canyon provided a baseline of deep corals, which will aid in determining the likely future impacts of warming seas and ocean acidification.
At the end of March, Falkor headed to a spectacular, isolated, coral wonder known as Scott Reef. The goals of this project were to improve techniques and algorithms for efficiently coordinating deployments of multiple exploratory vehicles so they can be left unattended to accomplish tasks like detailed seafloor mapping.
The Timor Sea expedition explored factors that affect the health of remote coral reefs and the connections between reefs. This collaborative project expands on previous research at shallower reefs, and encompasses the first ever exploration of deeper sites.
