Current Mission

R/V Endeavor and R/V Henry B Bigelow

R/V Endeavor and NOAAS Bigelow, Aug 2022

R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa – May 2021

R/V Armstrong, July 2021

E/V Nautilus

R/V Catapult, Feb-Mar 2021

R/V Armstrong, March 2020

R/V Manta, September 2019

R/V Rachel Carson, June 2019

MV Alucia, March 2019

R/V Revelle and R/V Ride, Aug-Sep 2018

NOAA Ship Bigelow, April 2018

Mission posts

Mesobot is lowered over the side of the R/V Endeavor. This powerful imaging robot captures video of gelatinous animals as well as eDNA samples from the water column. (Photo © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Setting Mesobot Free

The MOCNESS team takes shelter under a net during a drizzle. From left to right: University of Tasmania PhD. student Katy Baker, MIT-WHOI joint program student Kayla Gardner, WHOI fish ecologist Joel Llopiz, WHOI research assistant Julia Cox, and MIT-WHOI join program student Ciara Willis. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: Bigelow wraps up

OTZ project lead Heidi Sosik and WHOI senior research assistant Taylor Crockford review data coming in from the towed sled Stingray, which holds multiple sensors and an advanced shadowgraph camera to collect images of gelatinous animals at depth. The monitor above them displays sampling stations and the position of various vehicles, ships, and instruments that are in the water at any given time. (Photo © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: Unraveling the mysteries of migration with simultaneous sampling

Deep-See is deployed from aboard the NOAA ship <i>Henry B. Bigelow<i>. While winch trouble has stalled full operations, the team has managed to push forward with modified deployments and manual effort. (Photo by Annette Govindarajan © Woods Hole Oceanograhic Institution)

Field Notes: The show must go on

A viperfish, a common name for species in the genus Chauliodus. The viperfish’s ventral sides are covered in tiny spots called photophores, which allow them to camouflage themselves in the murky light that penetrates the Ocean Twilight Zone. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: All is not lost

An engineer supervises as the MOCNESS is deployed for the first time during this OTZ cruise. The winch failed while recovering MOCNESS after its second deployment. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: Technical difficulties

Katy Baker cups four myctophids, two hatchet fish and a sawtooth eel in her hand. Myctophids, or lanternfish, sport bioluminescent lights on their underbellies, creating counterillumination that helps them blend in against the relatively sunlit surface above. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: The big reveal

Engineering personnel make final checks and adjustments to the Deep-See before its first deployment. Weighing 2,500 pounds, the Deep-See requires several team members - and a strong winch - to deploy and recover. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: Deep-Sea tests the waters

Joel Llopiz directs engineers as they maneuver the MOCNESS, or the Multiple Opening and Closing Net with an Environmental Sensing System.
(Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: Testing MOCNESS

Science personnel untangle the ropes that make up the MOCNESS tow net aboard the R/V Henry B. Bigelow. (Photo by Andrea Vale © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Field Notes: NOAA Ship Bigelow sets sail

R/V <em>Catapult</em> as seen from its dinghy. (Photo: Jennifer Berglund)

Field Notes: Success!

Allan Adams wows us with his DIY radiometer filter, scrapped together from an empty Illy coffee can. “The Illy can has now been retired to the MacGyver Hall of Fame,” said Senior Scientist Dana Yoerger.
(Photo: Dana Yoerger.)

Field Notes: Adapting to Rough Seas