Imaging

Ocean imaging combines science and technology to uncover and document what lies beneath the surface, from coastal areas to the deepest ocean trenches.

Researchers use advanced tools such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and high-resolution cameras to document marine life, underwater terrain, and geological events in real time. This imaging work supports a wide range of scientific endeavors — from tracking offshore wind infrastructure and surveying deep-sea eruptions to measuring methane seeps and monitoring endangered whales using thermal infrared cameras.

Innovations in lighting, sensors, and drone technology have even made it possible to observe elusive environments like the ocean’s twilight zone, or to study wildlife with minimal disturbance, as seen in aerial seal surveys.

Ocean imaging plays a critical role in advancing marine science by providing visual access to regions of the ocean that are otherwise difficult or impossible to study directly. Each image and video captured underwater provides rare and essential tools for documenting marine life, mapping seafloor features, and monitoring environmental change within Earth’s largest and least explored ecosystem.