Learning from Sampling Around Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
While exploring never before seen parts of the seafloor, far from shore the Nautilus team works to gather as much knowledge as possible. In addition to video captured and observational data logged, another important record of Nautilus’ explorations are the physical samples collected. Using Hercules’ many tools, including the manipulator arm, push cores, slurp sampler, or Niskin bottles, the Corps of Exploration collects water, rock, and biological samples with ROV Hercules to help characterize the species, geologic foundation, and habitats we encounter.
During NA137, the team completed eight dives, within the Kingman Reef & Palmyra Atoll EEZ with the majority in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Spending 134 hours in water the team collected 106 samples, which will be analyzed by experts in Hawaiʻi and around the world for years to come.
Learn more about our sampling procedures: https://nautl.us/3NOBL50
Kingman Reef & Palmyra Atoll
The deep-water areas around Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll are within one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM). Despite a growing number of expeditions to explore deep-sea environments of the PRIMNM, including a 2019 Nautilus expedition, many areas remain unexplored.
