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We are in a race against time to document, understand, and communicate the consequences of known human impacts on the sea.⁠ ⁠ Today, our ocean faces many existential threats—climate change, excessive resource extraction, and pollution, to name a few. At the same time, the vast majority of the global ocean remains unexplored. Future stewardship of ocean resources will depend on a greater understanding of factors that affect the diversity and abundance of marine species, as well as the function of the ecosystems they inhabit. ⁠ ⁠ “In my humble opinion, the oceans are a more important frontier for research that will bring more tangible benefits to the world than space, or high energy physics, or other areas that have received a high level of public interest and, therefore, political support. It is about time someone gave ocean science more attention.” —David Packard, MBARI founder. ⁠ ⁠ Learn more about MBARI's mission in our new YouTube trailer (link in bio).⁠

We love sharing stories about the work we do—oceanography is a contact sport!⁠ ⁠ For over three decades now, MBARI has been committed to developing new technologies and approaches to overcome the barriers that have historically limited our ability to access the sea. Technological innovation taking place here at MBARI is helping to transform the field of oceanography, making it possible to explore and understand our ocean, which covers more than 70 percent of our planet.⁠ In addition to our core mission of pursuing ocean exploration, we are strategically applying our talent and technology to direct fundamental research in ways that can transform resource management, advance conservation action, and inspire the next generation of ocean champions.⁠ ⁠ Join us as we continue our journey and learn how MBARI is fostering a new era of ocean exploration and discovery (link in bio).

Not so long ago, in a galaxy not that far away…⁠ ⁠ MBARI was founded on May 4, 1987 by David Packard. Mr. Packard wanted to establish a new type of oceanographic institution—one where scientists and engineers worked side-by-side—because he believed the ocean was the most important frontier we have left. ⁠ ⁠ As MBARI moves into its fourth decade, we remain committed to our core founding principles: broadly sharing our data and technology, using our unique science and engineering partnership to explore and understand the ocean from atoms to ecosystems, and educating the public about the ocean’s importance in our daily lives. We also embrace the need to apply our expertise toward addressing the pressing global challenges that have emerged since our founding—combating climate change and advancing sustainable marine resource management. MBARI is working toward a future where the breathtaking majesty of our ocean is fully visible, a future where our home-grown technology is scaled globally to monitor and predict ecosystem changes, and a future where the most important frontier we have left is healthy and resilient.⁠ ⁠ Watch the full video in our 2019 Annual Report (link in bio). 🎥: @impactcreative

Welcome to the robot revolution. 🤖⁠ ⁠ Since its inception, MBARI has focused on developing new technologies and approaches to overcome challenges that have historically limited our ability to explore the sea.⁠ These technology platforms are taking us to places we couldn't be at times when we couldn't be there. It's a fundamental shift in the way we think about ocean exploration, and it gives us an incredible ability to learn about these things on a grand scale and to make connections that would otherwise be really challenging. ⁠ ⁠ Learn more about MBARI's recent work in this year's Annual Report (link in bio).

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. ⁠ ⁠ This Grimpoteuthis octopus was recorded swimming gracefully over the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. This region of the ridge, located about 350 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Washington State, is also home to hundreds of hydrothermal vents. Magma beneath the seafloor heats water within the surrounding bedrock, which emerges from the seafloor in the form of underwater seeps and geysers known as hydrothermal vents. When this superheated, mineral-rich water comes in contact with near-freezing seawater, the dissolved minerals crystalize, creating a wonderland of spires and hydrothermal chimneys up to 25 meters (80 feet) tall. ⁠ ⁠ Over the years, the Endeavour hydrothermal vent fields were mapped using sonar on ships and underwater robots. However, none of these surveys had high enough resolution to detect individual chimneys over large areas of seafloor. It was not until MBARI’s autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) D. Allan B. mapped the area at about 1.25-meter (4-foot) resolution that geologists were able to see the huge number of chimneys in this area, many of which were located outside known active vent fields.⁠ ⁠ Read the full story on MBARI's webpage (link in bio).

This is what brunch looks like in the deep sea. 🥐⁠ ⁠ These opportunistic snails are feeding on the bounty of a pyrosome "food fall." Pyrosomes are tubular, pelagic colonial tunicates that make their living by filtering phytoplankton from the water, and can reach lengths over 10 meters (32 feet). When they die, many pyrosomes often sink to the seabed, where they become a food feast for a variety of seafloor species. Almost all deep-sea life depends upon organic debris sinking from the surface, but food fall events like these may be a fast way for food to reach the deep sea.