Photographic Collection From Okeanos Explorer: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, and Troughs

Science Alert: Exploring Puerto Rico’s Seamounts, Trenches, & Troughs

Mona Passage

NOAA To Explore the Puerto Rico Trench in Historic Dive

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on whose work we rely on during all tropical storm activity, is currently operating an exploration of the ocean surrounding Puerto Rico. 

The expedition will explore Puerto Rico’s seamounts, trenches, and troughs.  Using both at-sea and shore-based science teams, the expedition will investigate unknown and poorly known areas, including the Puerto Rico Trench, Muertos Trough, Mona Passage, and the Virgin Islands Trough.

NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program

Amazingly, the expedition is able to live stream the dives over YouTube, as illustrated in this image from the mission plan.

Blast From The Past

I remember my teacher wheeling the television into my classroom so we could watch video from Apollo 16.  Truth be told, now that I think about it, that experience fundamentally changed my life.  It kindled a life long passion for science, to which I am forever grateful.

ROV Deep Discoverer 

So when I watch live video from our exploration of uncharted territory right on my very doorstep, forgive me, it gets me going.  It takes me right back to that classroom in the dark, watching my life change before my very eyes.  I hope it takes you there too, for we are witnesses to history in the making. Truth.

NOAA Supports Puerto Rico Maritime Economy

The Port of San Juan, which is experiencing a tremendous growth of maritime traffic and planning for more, received an additional economic boost today when NOAA debuted a new nautical chart that will make ocean-going vessel traffic safer and more efficient through San Juan Bay and the port area.

During the past 20 years, the Port of San Juan has seen a three-fold increase in the amount of maritime traffic, making San Juan the largest port in the Caribbean region. Puerto Rico exports chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, and medical equipment, and their more than $6 billion of waterborne foreign trade is positioned to expand with planned Panama Canal improvements scheduled for 2014.

Analysis

With the execution of Walmart and other multinational companies, it's easy to forget that most of our food, clothes, and merchandise arrive to Puerto Rico on a boat. It's slower than planes, but costs a fraction. Any company squeezing out every drop of profit will almost always choose cheaper over more convenient. Let me tell you folks. It takes a lot of boats to deliver $6 billion worth of goods.

Flickr Creative Commons Contributor: manual crank