Deep below the high seas: UL-Lafayette biology professor joins expedition to map Pacific Ocean floor – The Advocate

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette biology professor is spending his summer as the public face of an expedition exploring uncharted areas of the Pacific Ocean floor, narrating a live video feed for researchers on land.

Scott France embarked on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Okeanos Explorer ship last month as the biology science lead in the three-week expedition that began off the coast of American Samoa and will end at the Hawaiian coast.

In addition to narrating the videos, France also directs the daily dives aboard Okeanos. He is responsible for directing the remote submarine pilots and communicating with scientists on shore to make sure everyone can see what they need.

Another way you can think of me is as a liaison between the operations and the science on shore and making sure that science is represented," France said.

Kasey Cantwell, the NOAA expedition coordinator, described Frances position as a selfless one because the research is not solely focused on his area of expertise, which is deep-sea coral. Instead, the research is a wide-ranging exploration of the ocean floor.

Cantwell said Frances engaged personality and quick wit truly encompass the goals of their mission.

He has a brain thats essentially an encyclopedia, she said with a chuckle. He is always learning and teaching others about things that he is seeing on the seafloor.

France is working with a team of other scientists and technicians on the mission, including the geology science lead Del Bohnenstiehl, of North Carolina State University.

During the dives, the crew and scientists are mapping the mountains, valleys and cliffs of the ocean floor, France said, and are observing the deep-sea wildlife and its behaviors.

There are certain things that we are hoping to find and we are looking for, France said, but we are also going to truly unexplored areas that havent been examined before, and so we dont know whats there.

France added he was hoping to gather data about his specialty, the communities of corals and sponges living on the ocean floor. He related their importance to a forest, with the corals acting as trees for wildlife to use for shelter and sustenance.

Its been an amazing cruise so far, Cantwell said, noting scientists said one days dive is a once in a career experience.

She said the May 5 dive was particularly amazing because the crew witnessed an unexpected event: A brittle star a type of starfish with long limbs captured a swimming squid and ate it.

The dives take place between 1 and 2 miles underwater, so to examine wildlife like this, the Okeanos crew is using submersible remotely operated vehicles to navigate the ocean floor. France said the ROVs have the same capabilities as a submarine, but technicians can operate from the ship using a joystick instead of having to be underwater in the vessel.

There are two vehicles that are part of a dual-body systemto ensure picture quality and image stability when streaming the dives.

The first ROV is attached to a 6-mile cable connected to the ship; its name is Seirios, after the brightest star, because of its bright lights that shine down on the second vehicle.

That vehicle, Deep Discoverer, is attached to Seirios by a 90-foot fiber optic cable. The cable keeps Deep Discoverersteady from the currents that may cause unwanted motion to Seirios. Deep Discovererhas nine cameras, one of which is used to stream high-definition images; thrusters; motors; and two hydraulic arms so it can move on its own and collect samples.

As were exploring, we have to make sure all these different vehicles are working together, France said. Its not easy.

Advances in satellite and broadcasting technology have made it possible to share the information and discoveries from the dive with more than just the scientists on board. This ability, which crew members call telepresence, has allowed scientists from across the world to collaborate on the daily dives.

We are able to have an endless supply of scientists. So when we see things that make us speechless on the boat, its really cool to be able to have the scientific expertise at your fingertips, Cantwell said.

Cantwell said scientists from across the U.S. as well as in Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Canada are following the dives and contributing their opinions.

This trip is Frances third time on the Okeanos but his 17th time at sea for ocean research.

Asked why he returns for new expeditions, France replied: Why wouldnt I? This is just amazing. The opportunity to go where someone has never been before, see something for the very first time and be able to share that excitement with everybody. To me, thats fantastic. You dont get many opportunities on our planet anymore to go to places like that.

Patrons can follow the Okeanos expedition at oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.

Follow this link:
Deep below the high seas: UL-Lafayette biology professor joins expedition to map Pacific Ocean floor - The Advocate