Presented by Andrea Yoxsimer
Resource Protection Specialist, at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

As of June 2024, only 26.1% of the world’s ocean have been mapped using high-resolution technologies, such as multibeam sonar systems.

To address this gap, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is actively contributing to the expansion of oceanic mapping by conducting sonar operations across the United States. During the 2023 field season, NOAA Ship Rainier undertook a mission to the Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA) and American Samoa, where it conducted comprehensive mapping operations around both inhabited and uninhabited islands. Andrea was part of that team.

This lecture will provide an in-depth examination of the principles and functionality of multibeam sonar, explore the successes and challenges associated with conducting sonar operations in remote regions, and offer a detailed look into the experience of life aboard a 231-foot research vessel operating in the South Pacific.