This summer, Dr. Robert Ballard and his team launched an exciting expedition on the E/V Nautilus to explore ancient history and learn more about the ocean. The expedition began in June 2010 and is taking place in and around the Aegean Sea. Nautilus expedition scientists are mapping the sea floor, studying underwater volcanoes, investigating unusual life forms, exploring shipwrecks, and more.

Dr. Robert Ballard

The Nautilus expedition is special because it offers you a chance to take part in ocean exploration history. A satellite on the ship is transmitting live video and other data from the expedition 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scientists on shore use the data to take part in the expedition from afar. But you do not have to be a scientist to share the thrill of discovery. You can hear what Dr. Ballard and his team are saying and view what they are seeing in real time on the Nautilus Live website. Read on to find out more about the plan for each part of the expedition. Nobody knows what kinds of discoveries might be made, so be sure to tune in and find out!

Part 1: Sea of Marmara and East Aegean Sea, Turkey
June 28 – July 13, 2010
In 2009, Dr. Ballard and his team found several interesting sonar targets in this area. One of the targets, located in the middle of the Sea of Marmara, has the shape and profile of other sonar targets that proved to be ancient shipwrecks. Another target appears to be a circle of stones that could be thousands of years old. Scientists on the Nautilus plan to use ROVs to identify these targets and create maps and photomosaics of them. Lastly, the team will gather sonar data and look for new and interesting targets around a nearby submarine cable. This is a good place to look for wrecks because bottom trawling is not allowed close to the cable.

Part 2: Uluburun and Antalya Basin, Turkey
July 16 – July 25, 2010
This part of the expedition will focus on an ancient shipwreck known as Uluburun. The ship was carrying a wide variety of luxury goods such as gold and ivory when it sank 3,300 years ago. It is the oldest shipwreck ever excavated. Since its discovery in 1982, scuba divers have made many dives to the wreck site. However, some parts of the wreck are beyond the limit of human diving. The Nautilus expedition team plans to use ROVs to explore these areas and look for artifacts. They will use the ROV Hercules to record video of the deepest parts of the wreck. They will also make sonar maps of the wreck and will look for other shipwrecks in the surrounding area.

Part 3: Kolumbo Underwater Volcano, Greece
July 28 – August 12, 2010
The goal of this part of the expedition is to learn more about the underwater volcano Kolumbo. In 1650 AD, Kolumbo erupted and released toxic gases into the air. These gases killed more than 70 people and 1,000 animals on the nearby island of Thera (Santorini). Nautilus team members will try to learn more about the eruption by studying the area with sonar and looking for underwater deposits from the eruption. The team will also take a closer look at a hydrothermal vent field that was discovered within the Kolumbo crater during a 2006 expedition. Before leaving the area, scientists will explore other underwater volcanic cones in the area northeast of Kolumbo.

Part 4: Eratosthenes Seamount, Cyprus
August 15 – August 30, 2010
Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise from the sea floor but do not break the surface of the water. During this part of the expedition, team members will explore the Eratosthenes Seamount, which is located south of Cyprus. The seamount rises 6,500 ft (2,000 m) above the sea floor. It is an interesting example of a broken-off part of a continent colliding with a subduction zone—an area where one tectonic plate is sliding beneath another. The Nautilus team will make high-quality sonar maps of the seamount and will investigate markings on top of it that could be from mud volcanoes. Scientists will also study deep-sea corals and other living things in the area.

Part 5: Eastern Mediterranean, Israel
September 4 – September 15, 2010
The eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel is home to underwater landslides, deep-sea corals, ancient archaeological sites, gas seeps, and many other interesting features. During this part of the expedition, Nautilus team members will use sonar to survey this fascinating area and. They will focus primarily on the continental margin of Israel, specifically the deep water environments of the continental rise. The team will use the ROV Hercules to dive on selected targets and areas of interest located during the sonar survey and to collect detailed visual information and geological and biological samples.

Stay tuned! More details to come...