Cruise: Seamounts, Canyons & Reefs of the Coral Sea

As ocean temperatures increase, a pressing global challenge in marine science is to better understand the distribution and characteristics of the critical habitats that support mesophotic and deep-water coral communities. 

Log Post: Darling it’s better, Down in a Wet(ter) Lab at Sea

Trying to understand a constantly moving ocean system is a huge challenge. Accurately measuring the chemistry of the ocean is important for understanding many processes, including nutrient and carbon cycling; ocean circulation and movement of water masses; as well as ocean acidification and climate change. On this expedition, the water chemistry team has the important … Continued

Log Post: A Student Offshore

My name is Kyra, and I was chosen as the student opportunities participant for the “Listening For Cryptic Whales Species” cruise. Being a recent graduate from Hawaii Pacific University, this was a huge opportunity for me. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology, so this specific cruise was perfectly placed for my main … Continued

Log Post: The Ocean is Radioactive

On Friday, March 11, 2011, a colossal 9.1Mw earthquake stroke the coast of Japan. It It was the fourth most powerful earthquake since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves, thought to have been as high as 40.5 meters. It cost the lives of thousands of people, and around $34.6 billion … Continued

Log Post: Diving Deep with Dana

Join me, Dana Yoerger on my first  journey aboard R/VFalkor to Loihi Seamount. With over 70 oceanographic expeditions under my belt, I still get excited for the unknown adventure that awaits mapping underwater seamounts and volcanoes, who knows what discovery is just around the corner. July 1st, 2014 We had a good dive with Sentry … Continued

Log Post: When the boat rocks

Moving a laboratory onto a ship is no small feat. Multiple days are required just to transfer gear from shore to ship. It’s somewhat similar to moving from your own home to a dormitory, where more people share smaller spaces. On top of that, your schedule is always different, often times working in the evenings … Continued

Cruise: Necker Ridge: Bridge or Barrier?

This expedition will feature exploration of the Emperor Seamount Chain while researching biodiversity and its drivers. Using currents, mapping, and radio isotopes to track water masses – as well as genetic sampling of corals – the team will determine the driving force behind coral distribution in this region.

Log Post: Away

This morning at 0900, after two full days of loading and prep, Falkor slipped the dock and headed north out of Nanaimo into the central Strait of Georgia. Just north of the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay ferry route that runs from Nanaimo to toward Vancouver, the ship parked for some critical equipment tests. The … Continued

Log Post: A Rougher Shade of Blue

The sea is constantly changing, and today, it was a shift toward the rough side, as the forecast for gale force winds proved accurate. Work continues, but with a few further shifts to plans. Until today, seas had been calm, making it easy to climb the four decks up to the observation platform to watch … Continued

Log Post: A Chief Scientist’s Thoughts on Falkor

The bumpy sea abated through the night, and by morning, the winds were light and the sea a confused wash of old and dying waves. We steam along at our preferred MVP speed of eight knots, and sample with particular purpose. We’ve used the MVP to find exact locations across the continental shelf front for our … Continued