It is with pleasure that we once again welcome WHOI’s Cohen Labs
back aboard Sea Dragon.
This time we are returning with an international team of scientists to the remote Phoenix Islands Marine Protected Area (PIPA), the planet’s largest and deepest World Heritage Site. Following a super El Niño 3 years ago, that wreaked havoc across the Pacific basin, destroying many coral reefs, our aim on this expedition, is to explore new and existing study sites; study connectivity of island and pelagic systems to determine the movement of organisms within island reefs, between islands, and across the Pacific; and to investigate the resilience, resistance, and recovery of reefs and organisms in response to a changing climate and recovering populations following the newly enacted no-take restrictions. The science mission in detail
Follow us as we blog about the expedition –
Arrival in Honolulu
Written by Nathaniel Mollica | PhD student, MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
03 May 2018
Photo by Richard Brooks
Today marks the start of our journey. We met up from disparate places in Honolulu last night to catch the once-a-week flight to Kiritimati (Christmas) Island, 1,200 miles due south of here. This morning we meet over coffee to review the expedition plans. Everyone is eager to get underway…..
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Starting out on Sea Dragon
Written by Nathaniel Mollica | PhD student, MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
04 May 2018
Photo by Richard Brooks
After landing in the small airport in Kiritimati, we loaded our gear onto a truck own by Timei (pronounced “SEE-may” in I’Kiribiati) and drove down the single road looping around the island. The truck rumbled and jerked as we attempt to avoid the large potholes that scar the road as children run along the sides bouncing new tennis balls, gifts from some visiting fishermen….
Read the remainder of the original post here.
