Aiming to maximize the science being done at sea, Falkor will embark on its first transruise or “Research on Transit” this December, as she sails from Guam to Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. John Smith and his team will join Falkor crew as they stop in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 1,830 nautical miles (3,390 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu. In this remote protected area lies Johnston Atoll, the closest landmass to Hawaii, some 717 nautical miles (1,328 km) from Honolulu.
A Stepping Stone
In 2014, the Johnston Atoll Unit was expanded from 50 to 200 nautical miles, and while there have been several cruises dedicated to mapping parts of Johnston Atoll, a vast amount is unmapped, unexplored, and unknown. A large number of seamounts, ridges and other features at Johnston are saturated with unique organisms such as high-density deep-sea coral and sponge communities, as well a high concentration of deep-sea minerals. Many researchers consider Johnston Atoll a key marker in biological boundaries – a mapping waypoint for many species. It marks the southernmost range for species common in Hawaii, and is considered a stepping stone for many central and south Pacific marine species expanding their populations to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (also known as the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument). This remote area is ripe for mapping to better inform future ROV cruises to collect data and expand knowledge for scientific research and new discoveries.
The team plans to map over 7000 km² over four days along a portion of the unmapped Johnston Seamount group, where at least three unexplored seamounts will be investigated. Scientists will perform multibeam mapping as well as sub-bottom and magnetics surveys. Falkor’s multibeam systems will be used, as well as a Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse sub-bottom profiler (CHIRP). CHIRP uses sound frequency within the radar ‘ping’ as it moves over a range, instead of a single frequency, bringing better resolution compared to fixed-frequency sonars. Falkor will also tow a magnetometer to collect magnetics surveys along the sub-seafloor.
With data from these sensors and tools onboard, the team will be using Falkor’s supercomputing resources to combine this newly-discovered information with existing data and maps. The results will be provided to the research community and public. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer has two expeditions planned for 2017, and these opportunities can be maximized with the maps and information gathered during our research cruise prior, with data sharing resulting in more productive dives.
Sharing the Knowledge
Unique to this mission, the science team will include two participants from Schmidt Ocean Institute’s sister organization, 11th Hour Racing. A father son team, Brock Callen Sr., 11th Hour sponsorship partner, and Brock Callen Jr. an 11th Hour Racing Ambassador, will learn first-hand about research as sea, applying their maritime sciences, sailing and sports background experience. Encapsulating connections in conservation and ocean health, the “Brocks” will bring different ends of the maritime spectrum together through ship-to-shore connections with classrooms and athletes alike.
Accompanying them will be Artist-at-Sea participant Lucy Bellwood, author of the educational graphic novel Baggywrinkles: a Lubber’s Guide to Life at Sea, will help bring the mission to life through her illustration and comics work. Educator Jena Kline will also be on board, writing lesson plans for high school classrooms based on the research completed at sea, along with Student Opportunities applicant and University of Guam graduate student Andrew Kang.
Written By Logan Mock-Bunting and Carlie Wiener
Data & Publications
30-day Preliminary Cruise Report, Measurements Taken, and Trackline of Mapping Completed.
Map of Prime Study Area & 3D Map of Prime Study Area
The resulting shipboard dataset is being archived at Rolling Deck to Repository and is now available.
Data Quality Remarks: The Kongsberg EM302 data quality was flagged green, with the exception of the acrosstrack beam noise, which was flagged yellow.
Bathymetry and Sidescan data, including swath files, are publicly available through Marine Geoscience Data System.
Multibeam synthesis map of the Johnston Atoll Monument Unit, including data collected by Falkor and Okeanos Explorer.
Mapping Summary and Interpretative Maps
- Tree, J., Smith, J., Miller, J., and A. Kang. (2017). Detailed Geological Mapping Exposes Complex Eruptive History and Fundamentally Different Relative Ages of Newly Surveyed Seamounts within the Johnston Atoll Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Oral Presentation at Geological Society of America, Honolulu, HI, USA, doi: 10.1130/abs/2017CD-292568.
- Final Cruise Report: Eyes Below the Surface: Mapping Johnston Atoll
- Smith, J. (2018). Collaborative Seamount Studies in the Johnston Atoll Marine Monument. Oral Presentation, University of Hawaii seminar series, Honolulu, HI, USA.
- Smith, J. (2018). Geological Mapping of Seamounts and Other Features in the Pacific Marine Protected Areas. Oral Presentation, NOAA Inouye Regional Center distinguished lecture series, Honolulu, HI, USA.
- Smith, J. (2017). What Lies Beneath? Mapping the Marine Monuments of the Pacific. Public Lecture, Hanauma Bay Educational Lecture Series, Honolulu, HI, USA.
In the News
Father and Son Duo Head to Pacific to Map the Sea Floor
Vineyard Gazette • December 13th, 2016
Mappin’ the Floor
Medium • January 25th, 2017
Eyes Below the Surface
QPS News • January 19th, 2017
The Callens help map the ocean floor
MV Times • February 8th, 2017
Sailing & Science: Baltimore Students Join Expedition Through the North Pacific Gyre Aboard the RV FALKOR
REACH – US Sailing • February 14th, 2017
Underwater mapping reveals evolution of Johnston Atoll
ROV Planet • February 16th, 2017
Evolution of Underwater Landscapes in the Johnston Atoll Revealed
Hydro International • February 16th, 2017
Underwater mapping reveals evolution of Johnston Atoll
Saipan Tribune • February 17th, 2017
Revelan imágenes de las desconocidas profundidades oceánicas
El Dia • January 17th, 2019
Check Out Beautiful Sonar Images of the Seafloor Near Hawaii
MSN Video • March 2nd, 2017
Want to Explore the Deep Sea? The Secret Is Sound
Wired Magazine • March 2nd, 2017