The monitoring projects in the following inventory take place in or around the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Projects are conducted by either Sanctuary staff or by our partners. Summary information is presented for each.
For more information about the monitoring activities at Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, please click here, and review the Sanctuary Condition Report.
Contact the research coordinator at the Sanctuary for additional information.
USS Monitor Observations and Assessments
| Lead | Monitor National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Document the wreck in detail and characterize how it is affected by natural deterioration and human activities. |
| Method | Diver observations, remotely operated vehicle and autonomous underwater vehicle observations, remote sensing technology, photo and video technology. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active | 1977 - present | Multiple times per year |
| Links | http://monitor.noaa.gov/about/expeditions.html |
| Partners | The Mariners' Museum, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum,North Carolina Aquarium, Nauticus, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, North Carolina Maritime Museum, NOAA Ocean Exploration, the United States Navy, National Undersea Research Center |
| Keyword(s) | monitor, shipwrecks, deterioration |
Battle of the Atlantic
| Lead | Monitor National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Monitoring and characterization of Battle of the Atlantic shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina. Site surveys and corrosion studies are conducted to assess degradation to wreck sites due to environmental and human factors and to evaluate site significance. |
| Method | Diver observations, archaeological surveys, remotely operated vehicle and autonomous underwater vehicle observations, remote sensing technology, photo and video technology |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active, pending funding | 2008 - present | Annual (summer data collection) |
| Links | http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2010battleoftheatlantic |
| http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2011battleoftheatlantic | |
| http://vimeo.com/user2907480/videos/page:1/sort:newest | |
| Partners | Maritime Heritage Program, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the National Park Service, East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute, the state of North Carolina, the Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology, Advanced Underwater Surveys LLC |
| Keyword(s) | shipwrecks, maritime heritage, World War II, North Carolina |
Biological Assessments of North Carolina Shipwrecks
| Lead | Monitor National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Collect baseline data on the biological communities found on and around shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina. The surveys will be used to monitor changes in the communities over time, study the shipwreck sites as artificial habitat, and compare this habitat to the natural hard bottom habitats found off the coast of North Carolina. |
| Method | Fish and invertebrate surveys conducted by divers, fisheries acoustic surveys, photo and video technology. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Inactive, pending funding | 2010 - 2011 | Annual (summer data collection) |
| Links | http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/conservation/ |
| http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/battleoftheatlantic2 | |
| http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2010battleoftheatlantic | |
| http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2011baota/mission | |
| http://vimeo.com/20651349 | |
| Partners | NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute, the Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology |
| Keyword(s) | shipwrecks, fish, invertebrates, WWII, North Carolina, artificial reef |
NOAA Data Buoy
| Lead | NOAA National Buoy Data Center |
| Objective | NOAA's National Buoy Data Center operates a buoy located in the MNMS that collects and archives data on the following variables: wind, waves, air and water temperature. |
| Method | In situ buoy with live data feeds. Web-accessible. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active | 2006 - present | Continuous (real-time) |
| Links | http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php |
| Partners | Monitor National Marine Sanctuary |
| Keyword(s) | wind, wave, air temperature, water temperature, buoy, North Carolina |