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Scientists aboard NOAA Ship Rainier return

By Kat Wade / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Aug. 15, 2019

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Researchers recently captured images of the damage from Hurricane Walaka in October to Rapture Reef at French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
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NOAA researchers on Thursday shared their findings from a recent, 22-day expedition to Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument aboard NOAA Ship Rainier. They were the first team to conduct coral reef assessments at Papahanaumokuakea following Hurricane Walaka, which occurred last October. They discovered extensive damage to reefs at French Frigate Shoals due to Walaka, as well as an outbreak of an invasive alga at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
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Heather Spalding, assistant professor at College of Charleston, left, and Taylor Williams, a student intern from the University of Hawaii talked about the discovery of the invasive alga they found at Pearl and Hermes Atoll on Thursday.
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Scientists knew via satellite images that the majority of East Island at French Frigate Shoals appeared to be under water. What they found upon diving underwater on this expedition, however, was a shock. Rapture Reef at French Frigate Shoals, previously one of the most beautiful, diverse reefs in the isles, is now just a wasteland of coral rubble.
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Randall Kosaki, deputy superintendent, research and field operations, Papahanaumokuakea, talks to media on Thursday.
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NOAA researchers had gone on the expedition to survey and monitor coral reefs and associated reef fish communities, and to search for new species and habitat types on deep coral reefs.
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While they did discover numerous new species of algae in the deep sea, researchers also found thick mats of invasive, red alga – yet to be identified — on the west and northwest sides of Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans stands beneath the 27-foot RA 2-deep diver support boat aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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The HI 1 30-foot deep divers boat is seen aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans shows off NOAAʻs mandatory Hyperbaric Chamber brought aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans shows off the sleeping quarters - four to a room - aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans shows off the dive gear and tank room/lab with a compressor aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans shows off the dive gear and tank room/lab with a compressor aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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Dive tanks are seen aboard the NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 in a cargo container on Thursday.
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NOAA Commander Benjamin Evans, left, prepares to debark NOAA Ship Rainier S-221 on Thursday.
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