Hawaii vessel embarks on odyssey to explore life 2 miles below the ocean’s surface

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A staff of researchers is on a mission to uncover the mysteries of the Pacific.

The Nautilus Expedition Vessel left Honolulu a number of days in the past.

And as of Wednesday, the group was nearing Johnston Atoll for a 26-day exploration of the seafloor and its undiscovered species.

“We actually are visiting environments which have by no means been explored earlier than and in some instances, by no means been seen earlier than,” stated Steve Auscavitch, Nautilus biology science lead.

“We’re taking a look at species which may be new to science. We’re taking a look at rocks on the seafloor which may have been round since earlier than the time of the dinosaurs, so we’re actually getting an opportunity to place ourselves some perspective.”

Key to the voyage are remote-operated automobiles constructed to discover the seafloor ― 12,000 ft or about 2 miles beneath the floor.

Johnston Atoll, which sits roughly 800 miles southwest of Hawaii, is a part of the Pacific Distant Islands Marine Nationwide Monument. Scientists will spend the following month there analyzing this largely untouched atmosphere.

“There are large branching corals ― typically pinks, oranges, purples, yellows, white as large as a fridge,” stated Megan Prepare dinner, Nautilus co-expedition lead. “Some sponges, the data for deep sea sponges might be like nearly as large as a automotive, so that you’re seeing these actually completely different environments and feeling such as you’re flying by them.”

Researchers say this journey shall be essential in shining a light-weight on this hidden area.

It might additionally present insights on the Pacific as a complete.

“Going and witnessing these locations will assist us know and may also help us make these comparisons to Papahanaumokuakea or to the primary Hawaiian islands or to the nations of Kiribati or the broader pacific,” Prepare dinner stated.

“Assist type of see what issues are related, what issues are completely different and what we are able to continue to learn about that.”

The general public can be part of the Nautilus as the whole expedition is being livestreamed 24/7 at www.nautiluslive.org.

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