Posts by Amber Coogan
OOI Team Helps Capture Historic Shipwrecks in 3D
Almost any oceanographic expedition includes a group who disappear soon after departure to become “night stalkers.” These are the people who reverse their circadian rhythm, miss regular meals, and divorce themselves from the daytime pulse of activity to staff the night shift. They often develop a unique culture full of shorthand that only they fully understand.
On the Heroic Age Expedition to map and explore the wrecks of ships connected to Ernest Shackleton and Robert FalconScott, that role fell primarily to a three-person team from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). They were operating an OOI-provided, NSF-funded Falcon remotely operated vehicle (ROV) outfitted with a Voyis photogrammetric stereo camera system, as well as an ultra-high definition video camera, forward-looking sonar, and acoustic tracking beacons. The stereo camera allowed the OOI team to meet one of the major objectives of the expedition: fully documenting the shipwrecks and surrounding seafloor in three dimensions.
The Falcon ROV is typically used to inspect, maintain, and recover OOI seafloor observatory infrastructure, making this expedition a unique opportunity to demonstrate how OOI’s advanced capabilities can also support underwater archeological exploration and other scientific discoveries beyond routine observatory operations.
For much of the expedition, which was organized by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), while most of the science party slept, the OOI team of Andy Robinson, James Kuo, and Sam Dahlberg went to work. Their shift began after the human-occupied submersible Alvin had been safely stowed for the night. From a control station in the Hydro Lab aboard the Office of Naval Research’s R/V Atlantis packed with monitors, they guided the compact ROV through painstaking survey patterns, often just a few feet from the wrecks and the life that flourished on and around them.
“The lack of prior knowledge of the wrecks, especially Quest, where we only had a single sidescan sonar image, was a challenge,” said Robinson, chief pilot of the ROV. “We had to always be mindful of our exits. It was very different from our usual missions inspecting and recovering seafloor instrumentation.”
The targets that the Royal Canadian Geographical Society picked were two iconic vessels from the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. The first was Quest, the ship used by Shackleton on his final expedition and the vessel on which he died in 1922. The second was Terra Nova, which carried Robert Falcon Scott to Antarctica on his ill-fated South Pole expedition.
During each dive, the Voyis system captured hundreds of thousands of overlapping stereo photographs. Those images will be stitched together using a photogrammetric processing technique known as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to produce highly detailed digital reconstructions of the wrecks and surrounding seafloor. Every deck beam, broken spar, and scattered artifact will become part of a virtual model that researchers will be able examine long after the expedition.
“The imagery and data we collected from the wrecks in such a relatively short period is staggering,” said shipwreck expert and co-chief scientist of the expedition David Mearns. “A major question for me in the planning was whether we’d be able to get total coverage of both wrecks, documenting every surface of their exteriors and exposed interiors, knowing that the key to understanding a badly damaged shipwreck would be to have a single coherent, photogrammetrically accurate image as a final product. That question has been answered without reservation, and I can’t wait for the day the RCGS reveals what we have uncovered.”
The contribution of the OOI team extended well beyond operating the vehicle. They served as deckhands, deploying and recovering the ROV and the other half of the two-body vehicle system—a towcam provided by the NSF-funded WHOI Multidisciplinary Instrumentation in Support of Oceanography (MISO) Facility. They also acted as navigators, vehicle mechanics, camera technicians, and, along with imaging specialist Zoe Daheron, data managers and quality-control experts, continuously reviewing imagery and adjusting survey plans to ensure complete coverage.
By the time the ship returned to port, the night stalkers had accomplished something remarkable. Through the combined capabilities of the vehicle and camera systems, Quest and Terra Nova have been documented, transforming two historic wrecks from distant archaeological sites into immersive digital records that scientists, historians, and the public will be able to explore.
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The OOI team and R/V Atlantis crew deploy the OOI Falcon ROV. Credit: Ken Kostel, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.[/caption]
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Sam Dahlberg (foreground) provides navigational support and situational awareness while Andy Robinson pilots the ROV and WHOI biologist Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser and co-chief scientist David Mearns watch the survey of Quest. Credit: Ken Kostel, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.[/caption]
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James Kuo (foreground) and Andy Robinson help recover the ROV after an overnight dive on the wreck of Terra Nova. Credit: Ken Kostel, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.[/caption]
Read More NSF Advances Endurance Array Redeployment
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has begun the phased redeployment of its Ocean Observatories Initiative (NSF OOI) Endurance Array, restoring critical ocean observations following planned maintenance and servicing.
The redeployment of gliders this summer will restore seasonal observations, enabling scientists to monitor seasonal hypoxia over the central Oregon and Washington shelves. The gliders will also capture changing ocean conditions as El Niño is expected to develop later this year, bringing warmer waters and a deeper thermocline to the region. NSF OOI glider data are available in near real time through the OOI Data Explorer and the national Glider Data Assembly Center (GDAC).
Looking ahead, several moorings are scheduled for redeployment aboard the R/V Revelle in early October, including the Oregon and Washington Shelf surface moorings and the Washington Offshore Profiler Mooring. Redeploying these moorings ahead of the developing El Niño will restore continuous observations of winds, waves, and water column conditions throughout the fall and winter. Data from the redeployed moorings will be available on the OOI Data Explorer and the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems NANOOS; meteorological data will also be available through the NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC).
Planning is also underway for redeployments in the spring of 2027 that will fully restore mooring and glider operations across the Endurance Array.
In parallel with redeployment efforts, the Endurance Array team continues to support the broader ocean observing community through scientific leadership. Project Scientist Ed Dever is chairing a session “Ocean Observing Systems at a Crossroads: Accomplishments, Innovations, & Vision” at the Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference.
Dever is also co-convening the Fall 2026 AGU session “Long-Term Ocean Observatories as Drivers of Sensor & Data Science Innovation” with Mike Vardaro and Wendi Ruef of the University of Washington Regional Cabled Array.
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NSF OOI Endurance Array staff recover glider 384 to adjust its ballast before sending it on its mission over the Oregon Shelf. Photo credit: Scarlett Arbuckle (Oregon State University).[/caption]
Read More NSF Solicitation Supports AI-Ready Scientific Datasets
The NSF’s new solicitation aims to enhance the scientific value of existing datasets for AI-driven research, particularly leveraging the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s extensive ocean data for innovative interdisciplinary analyses. Researchers can submit proposals until November 4, 2026.
Read MoreNew Research Powered by OOI Data: July 2026
Spatial Variability in Year-to-Year, Near-Bottom Hypoxia Over the United States Pacific Northwest Continental Shelf
Authors: J. A. Barth and S. W. Coleman
Each summer, strong coastal winds drive nutrient-rich deep water onto the Pacific Northwest continental shelf through a process known as coastal upwelling. While these nutrients support one of the region’s most productive marine ecosystems, the upwelled water is also naturally low in oxygen. As organic matter decomposes, oxygen levels can drop even further on the shelf, creating hypoxic conditions that can threaten marine life.
In a recent study, researchers J. A. Barth and S. W. Coleman examined the extent and variability of near-bottom hypoxia along the U.S. Pacific Northwest continental shelf from 2021 through 2024. By combining observations from multiple ocean observing platforms, including the U.S. NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), the authors mapped seasonal, near-bottom (within 15 m of the bottom) low-oxygen conditions and investigated the environmental processes driving them.
The study found that near-bottom hypoxia affected between 28% and 52% of the continental shelf each summer, with the largest extent occurring in 2021 when upwelling-favorable winds were particularly strong. Although the severity varied from year to year, the spatial distribution of hypoxia remained remarkably consistent, highlighting the strong influence of regional oceanographic processes.
Researchers also found evidence that stronger seasonal upwelling winds contribute to more widespread hypoxia. Because climate models project increases in coastal upwelling-favorable winds , these findings suggest that low-oxygen events could become more frequent or extensive in the future.
How OOI Data Contributed
Observations from OOI’s Coastal Endurance Array and Regional Cabled Array provided continuous dissolved oxygen measurements that complemented ship-based surveys and other regional observing systems. Long-term, high-frequency observations like these allow scientists to monitor changing ocean conditions, identify emerging trends, and place individual events within a broader environmental context.
Why It Matters
Low-oxygen waters can stress or displace commercially and ecologically important marine species, affecting fisheries, ecosystems, and coastal communities. This study demonstrates how sustained observations from OOI help scientists understand the processes driving hypoxia and improve our ability to monitor and anticipate changes in coastal ocean health as the climate continues to change.
Citation
Barth, J. A., & Coleman, S. W. Spatial Variability in Year-to-Year, Near-Bottom Hypoxia Over the United States Pacific Northwest Continental Shelf.
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Sean Coleman holds a trawl-mounted CTD instrument used to measure dissolved oxygen during NOAA’s annual groundfish surveys. These observations were among the datasets used in the study. Photo credit: J. A. Barth.[/caption]
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The OOI Regional Cabled Array Shallow Profiler, whose observations contributed to the findings presented in the study. Illustration: Patrick Waite, University of Washington.[/caption]
Read More New to OOI? Start Here.
Whether you’re just getting started with OOI data or looking to incorporate it into your research or teaching, OOI offers a variety of online resources to help you get up to speed. Explore step-by-step tutorials, learn the basics of the Data Explorer, discover how to compare time series data, and browse educational resources designed for instructors and students. These free tools make it easier to find, visualize, and use OOI data for scientific research and classroom learning.
Resources include:
- OOI Tutorials:
- Getting Started with Data Explorer
- Compare Time Series Data with Data Explorer
- Educator Resources
OOI Participates in Air–Sea Interaction Symposium at URI
Jim Edson, Lead Principal Investigator of the OOI, recently participated in the Air–Sea Interaction Symposium hosted by the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. The event honored the significant contributions of renowned researchers Alex Ginis and Tetsu Hara to the fields of air–sea interaction and marine meteorology.
During the symposium, Edson presented OOI research and observational capabilities, highlighting the observatory’s role in advancing understanding of ocean-atmosphere processes. The gathering brought together scientists, students, and leaders from across the marine meteorology field to share new findings, discuss emerging challenges, and strengthen collaborations.
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Credit: URI/GSO[/caption]
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Credit: URI/GSO[/caption]
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Credit: URI/GSO[/caption]
Read More NSF OOI Descoping Update for the Community
June 18, 2026 | NSF Update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative →
Dear OOI Community,
As many of you may now be aware, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has initiated a major descoping of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Major Facility. The official statement is available here.
The OOI recognizes the importance of this announcement to the many researchers, educators, students, engineers, partners, and community members who have contributed to and relied upon OOI data over the past decade. We want to provide additional context for the community as we work through the details of this transition.
NSF’s descoping plan includes the phased recovery and removal of in-water infrastructure from the Endurance, Pioneer, Irminger Sea, and Station Papa Arrays over the next approximately 15 months. At the Endurance Array, the descoping process is already underway, with final recovery activities scheduled for June 2026. Recovery of the Pioneer Array is currently planned for June 2027, while the Irminger Sea and Station Papa Arrays are expected to be recovered during the summer of 2027, subject to ship scheduling and operational constraints.
As infrastructure is recovered from each array, the associated real-time data streams and observing capabilities at those locations will come to an end. However, all previously collected OOI data will remain accessible through the OOI Data Center. The Regional Cabled Array (RCA), the OOI Data Center, the Program Management Office (PMO), and Community Engagement activities will continue operating through September 30, 2028.
We encourage investigators to continue:
- Using OOI datasets in proposals, publications, and presentations
- Referencing OOI-enabled science outcomes in community discussions and reports
- Supporting student and early-career researcher engagement with OOI data
- Identifying opportunities for data driven research and cross-program collaborations using the existing observational record
Over more than a decade, OOI has delivered the world’s most advanced continuously operating ocean observing systems, supporting science, engineering, education, and workforce development across the ocean sciences community. We are profoundly grateful for the extraordinary efforts of the scientists, engineers, operators, educators, students, and partners who made this facility possible and who continue to advance its legacy through the use of its data.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support.
Best regards,
Jim Edson
Principal Investigator, NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative
Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Announcement on NSF OOI Descoping
June 18, 2026 | NSF Update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative →
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has initiated descoping of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Major Facility.
This plan includes the removal of all in-water infrastructure from the Irminger Sea, Station Papa, Endurance and Pioneer Arrays, subject to ship scheduling and other operational constraints. All recovered equipment will be retained by the operating institution pending further guidance from NSF.
The OOI Regional Cabled Array will remain operational for the foreseeable future. NSF intends to ensure continuity of the Data Center capabilities in support of ongoing OOI operations.
We encourage the community to use the ten-plus years of OOI data by including it in proposals, publications, presentations, and conversations with colleagues. Continued engagement demonstrates the scientific impact and wide-ranging applications enabled by the OOI and its data, underscoring its importance as a resource for the oceanographic community.
Read MoreA tear off the Pacific Northwest coast is helping scientists understand earthquake risk
NSF Announcement: Early Career Opportunities for Scientists and Engineers
On Monday, May 11, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) will release vacancy announcements of particular interest to early career scientists and engineers. The staff in these positions work with program directors to plan and analyze program portfolios, identify emerging research areas, and support/manage the merit review of proposals and use data analysis to understand the landscape of the principal investigator community and the impact of current NSF investments. The incumbents will work internally and externally to engage with the research community through outreach and other community activities. NSF also supports the professional development of entry level scientists and engineers through interdisciplinary activities, training, and opportunities to engage in independent research and collaboration.
These career opportunities found on the NSF career webpage will be open for a limited time for applicants to apply through USAJobs.
Please share this announcement with your colleagues who may find it of interest, including recent graduates and students nearing the completion of their studies.
Read More