NOAA Ocean Explorer Podcast - oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

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Tracking Narwhals in Greenland 2006-2007 Apr 23, 2007

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In the frigid waters off the coast of Greenland scientists are getting valuable data from narwhals - the most ice loving whales in the world. Narwhals, beluga and bowhead whales, which you can hear in the background, make their homes in the Arctic. There are about 100,000 narwhals in the world, and the vast majority of them - about 50,000 to 70,000 - live in the Arctic waters of Greenland. Audio courtesy of Tracking Narwhals in Greenland 2006-2007, Kristin Laidre, NOAA-OE.

Vailulu'u 2005: Nafanua Submarine Volcano "Eel City" Mar 12, 2007

Show notes

The Crevices at 708 meters (2323 feet) of a hydrothermal vent site are occupied by thriving aggregations of cutthroat (synaphobranchid) eels. These eels, which have now been identified as Dysommina rugosa, are known from trawl samples in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but have never before been studied in their natural habitat. The only common metazoan (multicellular) animals occupying these low-temperature hydrothermal vents, preliminary work indicates that they use the vent only as a place to live. They seem to feed not on chemosynthetic bacteria, but on crustaceans that pass by Nafanua’s summit in the currents. Video footage courtesy of UCSB, Univ. S. Carolina, WHOI, NOAA-OE.

The Hidden Ocean, Arctic 2005: Experience Under-Ice Diving Mar 12, 2007

Show notes

While much of under-ice diving is similar to regular diving, there are a few important differences. First, the divers wear drysuits instead of wetsuits. These dry suits are sealed at the wrist and the neck and don't let any water in beyond the seals. Second, under-ice diving is usually performed using compressed air, not other mixed gases and the regulators used are specifically designed to be used in temperatures below freezing. Most different from regular diving operations, under-ice divers are tethered to the surface. Video footage courtesy of Shawn Harper, The Hidden Ocean, Arctic 2005 Exploration, NOAA-OE.

Life on the Edge 2005: Investigating Coral Ecosystems Dec 20, 2006

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Watch a NOAA video podcast on the deep-sea cold water corals located and sampled from poorly studied middle slope (360-800 meter) coral banks, from Cape Lookout, NC to southeastern FL covering over 650 nautical miles (1,205 km). Video courtesy of Ross et al, NOAA-OE, HBOI and Art Howard.

Gulf of Alaska 2002: Exploring Alaska's Seamounts Aug 23, 2006

Show notes

View colorful highlights of deep-sea marine life from the Gulf of Alaska, including fan corals, vase sponges, basket stars and squid. This video comes from a NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration mission to study unexplored seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. 13 dives were made in the titanium-hulled submersible Alvin to collect this fascinating video from more than 3000 feet below the surface of the sea. Video courtesy of Peter Etnoyer, WHOI, NOAA, the Alvin Group, and the 2002 GOA Expedition science party.

Submarine Ring of Fire 2006: NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit ROV Close Call Jun 23, 2006

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Watch a NOAA video podcast on the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (SRoF'06) expedition to the Mariana Arc. While the pilots were trying to tend to a troublesome suction sampler at 560 meters (1840 feet), a large burst from the Brimstone Pit (which clearly has two side-by-side eruptive vents) almost engulfs the vehicle in an ash plume. Video courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program, NOAA-OE.

Submarine Ring of Fire 2006: Daikoku Sulfur Cauldron May 12, 2006

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Watch a NOAA video podcast on the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (SRoF'06) expedition dive to the Mariana Arc, Daikoku submarine volcano. Molten sulfur and volcanic gases are bubbling out of a vent along the far wall of Sulfur Cauldron, keeping the partially-crusted surface of the pond undulating. Sometimes the heaving is so great that pieces of crust near the vent break off, tip on end, and are pulled downward by the convecting currents in the pond. Video courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program, NOAA-OE.

Submarine Ring of Fire 2006: NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit Erupting May 12, 2006

Show notes

Watch a NOAA video podcast on the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (SRoF'06) return to the Mariana Arc, NW Rota-1 submarine volcano. This is the first time that glowing lava has ever been witnessed from a submarine volcanic eruption! In this case, the lava is rising in the vent so fast that a small glimpse of red glow can be seen intermittently before it crusts over or is blown apart. What a sight! Do you think the scientists were a little excited? Video courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program, NOAA-OE.

Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Apr 10, 2006

Show notes

Watch a NOAA video podcast on the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (SRoF'06) expedition that will take place on the Mariana Arc, the third Ocean Explorer expedition to the Marianas. Video courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program, NOAA-OE.

Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (audio) Apr 10, 2006

Show notes

Listen to a NOAA podcast on the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 (SRoF'06) expedition that will take place on the Mariana Arc, the third Ocean Explorer expedition to the Marianas. Audio courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program, NOAA-OE.

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