Spies in the Deep: Ocean Landers Explore the Deep Sea

Below the surface layers of the ocean, there are ecosystems full of undiscovered life. Scientists love to ask questions like, “Who is there?” and “What are they doing?” An important question scientists are beginning to ask is, “How will these living things react to warmer waters, loss of oxygen, or pollution?” To answer these questions, scientists build equipment to observe life in the deep sea. We built an ocean lander named BEEBE, with a camera, sensors, and waterproof casing. BEEBE helped us study deep-sea ecosystems near the coast of California and learn about the animals that live there. We can use what we learned to recognize vulnerable communities and the threats some ocean animals face. An ocean lander like BEEBE can be a great tool to learn more about coastal, deep-sea ecosystems around the world!