Operation Deep Scope 2007: Deep-Sea Benthic Imaging and Technology

Operation Deep Scope 2007 collected oceanographic data during an expedition aboard the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON in the Bahamas from August 17 to August 28, 2007. The project focused on developing and deploying novel imaging technologies, including stealth cameras and fluorescence, polarization, and UV imaging systems, to explore benthic communities from shallow reefs to abyssal plains. Its interdisciplinary approach aimed to characterize deep-sea environments and locate ocean resources through visual ecology and optical oceanography.

Use Cases

• Studying depth-dependent effects on benthic communities based on cliff site transects from the surface to 3000 feet.
• Analyzing bioluminescent and polarized light signals in deep-sea organisms using fluorescence and polarization imaging data.
• Testing stealth camera system performance for observing deep-sea species without disturbance.
• Mapping inorganic and organic ocean resources using novel imaging and listening technologies.

Strengths

• Data originates from a documented NOAA/NCEI expedition with specific dates (August 17-28, 2007) and location (Bahamas).
• The project developed and deployed multiple advanced imaging technologies, suggesting a multimodal data collection approach.
• Dataset is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata and Data.gov), indicating curation and importance.

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: column names, data formats, row counts, and license information are unknown across all sources.
• The dataset's update history shows a conflict: one source lists 2007-08-28, another lists 2026-03-05, creating uncertainty about data currency.
• The description is a project proposal narrative; the actual accessible data content and structure are not detailed.

Provenance

Source

NOAA_NCEI

Collection Method

Collected during the Operation Deep Scope 2007 expedition aboard the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON using developed imaging and listening technologies.

Time Range

2007-08-17 to 2007-08-28

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:30:10.154364

Geography

Bahamas (specifically Gouldings Cay and Little San Salvador), Caribbean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.