Celebrating 10 years of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Mapping Program: A look back on achievements and lessons learned

NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) is the only U.S. federal organization dedicated to exploring the world's unknown ocean. One of the tools OER employs in this mission is the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, which is outfitted with 9 scientific sonars and a 6,000 m capable ROV system. Since August 2008, the Okeanos Explorer in collaboration with various NOAA offices, federal and state agencies, and academic partners has led mapping campaigns in Western, Central and Eastern Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Western Atlantic collecting more than 1.5 million square kilometers of bathymetry along with seafloor and water column backscatter data. Scientists worldwide participate in expeditions through telepresence and mapping data are made available to scientists in near real-time for ROV dive planning and to public within 30-90 days of the conclusion of a cruise. Several important discoveries have resulted from this work including detection of previously unknown widespread water column seeps on the U.S. eastern continental shelf break, and Gulf of Mexico, and numerous seamounts in the Pacific. The mapping data has been used to inform management of numerous protected areas, and the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Project. OER has made several technological advances in the use of mapping sensors including incorporating telepresence in mapping operations as well as training the next generation of ocean mappers by hosting more than 120 Explorers in Training on mapping expeditions. Additionally, OER's "Always Exploring" paradigm has enabled an operational tempo that maximizes strategic mapping during transits, leading to data collection over otherwise unmapped geologic features including linear seamounts and fracture zones. This presentation will discuss approaches to cruise planning and execution, notable mapping discoveries, research developments resulting from these discoveries, and lessons learned from 10 years of conducting deep water ocean exploration mapping missions.