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Contact: Krista Trono NOAA
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Monitor National Marine Sanctuary FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(757) 591-7328
RESEARCHERS TO BROADCAST LIVE FROM SITE OF
HISTORIC USS MONITOR WRECK
A team of researchers will conduct a major mapping expedition on July
15-20 to the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, site of one of the 19th
century's greatest naval technological innovations. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary
Program and the Institute for Exploration (IFE) will offer the public a
real-time view of the Monitor as researchers describe the expedition on
July 19 at 2:00 p.m. EST.
An interactive program from the sanctuary, located 16 miles off North
Carolina's Cape Hatteras, will be broadcast live from the University of
Rhode Island research vessel Endeavor. The public can view the
ship-to-shore broadcasts through the Internet at www.oceanslive.org or
at Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Author,
Paul Clancy, (Ironclad) will be on hand at Nauticus to share his
perspective of the battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia.
"We are excited that the technology now exists to allow the public to
join scientists as they study this important part of America's history,
" said David Alberg, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent.
During the broadcasts, experts from NOAA and IFE will provide commentary
about the history and crew of the USS Monitor, technology being used to
collect video and still imagery of the site, and current conservation
efforts on artifacts recovered such as the Monitor's rotating gun turret
that is underway at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia.
The expedition will collect high-resolution digital still and video
imagery that will be used to generate a high quality photo mosaic of the
entire wreck site. A photo mosaic is created by combining several or
more images into one complete image. Photo mosaics will provide
scientists with an accurate picture of the entire wreck site and its
surroundings.
Scientists will use the University of Rhode Island's research vessel
Endeavor as the platform and IFE's robotic vehicle systems ARGUS and
LITTLE HERCULES as the primary tools for data collection during the
expedition. These are the same two robotic vehicles used during Robert
Ballard's return to the Titantic in 2004.
The expedition is being sponsored by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, The Institute for Exploration and in part by
the Rhode Island Endeavor program. The live broadcasts are made
available with the support of the United States Coast Guard and the
National Park Service Hatteras group.
Two 15-minute broadcasts are planned for 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on
July 17 and 18. A longer program including an interactive live question
and answer period is planned for July 19 at 2:00 p.m. Broadcast times
are dependent on weather and ocean conditions.
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Researchers to Broadcast Live From Site of Historic Monitor Wreck . . .
Pg. 2
Scientists and crew from the expedition will then be in port at
Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia on July
21st. The public is invited to view the research
vessel, meet the crew, and see some of the preliminary data collected
from 11:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Special features include deck tours of the
R/V Endeavor, from 1-3 p.m.; book signings by Clancy; Union Navy
re-enactors; sea-chantey performances by the Press-Gang; as well as
outdoor exhibitions from the Maritime Heritage Program, Mariners Museum,
Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the Old Coast Guard Lifesaving Station.
This event is free and open to the public.
For further information on the expedition, please visit the National
Marine Sanctuary Program Web site or contact Krista Trono,
communications coordinator with the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary at
(757) 591-7328.
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1975 to protect the
wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, that sank during a
storm 16 miles off Hatteras, N.C. in 1862. The sanctuary is managed by
NOAA.
NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public
awareness of America's maritime heritage by conducting scientific
research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the
sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one coral
reef ecosystem reserve that encompass more than 150,000 square miles of
America's ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.
NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated
to enhancing economic security and national safety through the
prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and
providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine
resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, over 60
countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that
is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
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On the Internet:
NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
National Marine Sanctuary Program - http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary - http://monitor.noaa.gov
Follow the Expedition- http://www.oceanslive.org
Martin S. Fisher
Director of Education & Exhibits
Nauticus, The National Maritime Center
One Waterside Drive
Norfolk, VA 23510
phone (757) 664-1003, mobile (757) 623-1287, fax (757) 623-1287
[log in to unmask], www.TheNMC.org
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