Latest news with #LakeGuardian
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Rhody the robot helps Lake Ontario expedition to make a splash
May 30—OSWEGO — The National The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deepwater Shipwreck Expedition at Lake Ontario wraps up today, and the two-week mission has created stunning results with the help of a remotely operated vehicle making its inaugural dives. "This has been a first of its kind expedition in a sanctuary," said Holly D. Pettus, deputy expedition leader. "We've used the University of Rhode Island's brand new ROV, Rhody, to document shipwrecks in order to construct awesome 3-D models." The ROV was developed by the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. The expedition set out on May 18 from Oswego aboard the 180-foot research vessel Lake Guardian, owned by the EPA. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the University of Rhode Island's Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute collaborated on the project. "It's been so cool to take Rhody on its maiden voyage and to see it in action for the first time," said expedition photographer and videographer Marley Parker. "I've been impressed by how reliable Rhody has been in this expedition and it's been amazing seeing it get in the water and doing its thing all day, every day." A U.S. National Marine Sanctuary, managed by NOAA, is a zone where the marine environment enjoys special protection. The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, designated last year, acts as an educational and cultural gateway between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean and protects culturally significant places, resources and artifacts integral to American history and the heritage of indigenous peoples. The sanctuary features a collection of 63 known shipwrecks and one known submerged aircraft, among the best preserved in the world, discovered over decades by local recreational scuba divers and shipwreck explorers. It ends just past Tibbetts Point Lighthouse in Cape Vincent, where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River. Pettus and Parker, both from OCEI, spoke Wednesday during a live-streamed video of expedition highlights. They said 12 shipwrecks had been documented in the expedition, with a goal of 14. They were confident they would reach the goal by the end of the expedition today. "I've been so amazed by this team," Parker said. "When I first looked at the expedition plan and saw that it had 14 shipwrecks in two weeks, I thought there was no way we could do that. I've worked on a lot of ships and rarely worked on a team as tenacious as this one — getting after it every day." The expedition is a 24-hour operation, Parker added. "During the day, our ROV team is up early and getting the ROV in the water, first thing. We often do multiple dives in one day. They close up shop in the evening and then our mapping team comes online. The team has been imperative to making this expedition as successful as it's been. They have identified many new, previously undiscovered wrecks within this sanctuary and we've been able to pinpoint their locations with survey maps." Pettus said that with a team of skilled divers, it could take more than five days to explore and document a shipwreck. "Yesterday, we completed four dives," she said. "We are all systematic and have gotten into a great rhythm, and that's allowed us to move pretty quickly." The expedition targeted shipwrecks not accessible to most SCUBA divers. "The typical recreational SCUBA diver can only go to about 120 feet," Pettus said. "A lot of the wrecks we've been going to are over 200 or 300 feet and sometimes much deeper." "Not to mention how much more efficient and quickly Rhody can make these maps and imagery happen, compared to humans," Parker said. Expedition technology, Pettus said, has rapidly advanced in the past two decades. Software developments have allowed the creation of 3-D models of shipwrecks with stunning accuracy. Another promising element is the ability to have Rhody remotely operated. For example, during it's Lake Ontario mission, it was controlled at one point by Jake Bonney at the University of Rhode Island. "In the future, it's going to look a lot different in another 10 or 20 years from now," Pettus said. "We're going to see a massive increase in remote piloting. That opens up all kinds of opportunities." Pettus said Rhody could be used for emergency response or to simply check out underwater architecture. "It's an instrument that can easily mobilize," Parker said. "I'm excited to look back years from now after Rhody has done multiple projects and maybe even some emergency response work and to look back and think, 'I remember when Rhody was brand new and on its first expedition.'" The Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute team will return home to Rhode Island after today. "Meanwhile, the marine archaeologists will spend hundreds and hundreds of hours reviewing and closely examining all of the data we've captured, because they are basically hunting for clues in the footage of what and where to find artifacts within these vessels that could help them to glean information about the exact identifications of some of these wrecks," Parker said. "This baseline information will help protect and preserve these artifacts on the bottom of the (lake) floor," Pettus said. "The small but mighty team at NOAA's office of Marine Sanctuaries are working hard to make sure all of these wrecks are protected, preserved and the ones that can be accessed will be properly buoyed, so the public can come out and enjoy these things as well."
Observer
24-05-2025
- Science
- Observer
Historic shipwrecks come to light in the Great Lakes
Last week, the Lake Guardian left the port of Oswego, New York, preparing to sail into the nation's past. The research vessel, which belongs to the Environmental Protection Agency, is exploring the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, a 1,722-square-mile expanse that stretches from the shoreline of New York state to the (watery) border with Canada. There, 63 ships rest beneath hundreds of feet of cold, clear water. Many had sailed in the service of nation-building some time during the 19th century, only to succumb to bad weather, rough seas, the vagaries of fate. Now, the maritime archaeologists aboard the Lake Guardian — experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, students from the University of Rhode Island — aim to create detailed 3D computer models of the wrecks, starting with about a dozen ships. They will do so with the help of Rhody, a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, outfitted with a high-definition camera that has provided astonishing images on which those models will be based. 'There's lifetimes worth of research potential here,' Benjamin Ioset, a NOAA maritime archaeologist, said as the expedition commenced. A native of central New York, he began diving in these waters when he was 14. 'I've always been in love with this region,' Ioset said. Now, he is a conduit to that region's prosperous, industrial past. In fact, the Great Lakes make for a world-class shipwreck museum, albeit one that can be reached only by competent scuba divers or ROVs like Rhody, depending on the wreck's depth. Just three days into the trip, the Lake Guardian's sonar system discovered a new shipwreck, the marine sanctuary's 64th: probably a commercial vessel from the early 19th century, though Ioset said it would take a little bit of detective work to nail down the craft's identity. For the most part, the goal of the trip is not to find new ships but to use Rhody's powerful cameras to capture clear images of ones already known: the Farmer's Daughter, possibly the oldest ship in the sanctuary; the steam-powered tugboat Philip Becker; the Roberval, a steamer whose steel hull proved no match for an enormous wave that sank it in 1916. The project is the culmination of an effort by local officials to gain recognition for their stretch of the Great Lakes. A year ago, the Biden administration designated a large stretch of eastern Lake Ontario a national marine sanctuary, which confers certain protections — and a measure of clout. Local and state officials hope that the mostly commercial ships now submerged in hundreds of feet of freshwater spur interest from history buffs and recreational divers. They point to Thunder Bay, a marine sanctuary in northern Michigan whose shipwrecks attract thousands of diving enthusiasts each year to the tiny town of Alpena. Lake Champlain, which straddles New York and Vermont, has also become a diving destination.
Boston Globe
24-05-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Historic shipwrecks come to light in the Great Lakes
Now, the maritime archaeologists aboard the Lake Guardian -- experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, students from the University of Rhode Island -- aim to create detailed 3D computer models of the wrecks, starting with about a dozen ships. Advertisement They will do so with the help of Rhody, a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, outfitted with a high-definition camera that has provided astonishing images on which those models will be based. (On Friday morning, the team began a YouTube livestream of a vessel marked on a previous survey. In an early morning email, the researchers said they were 'blown away and stunned by what we have found.') Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'There's lifetimes worth of research potential here,' Benjamin Ioset, a NOAA maritime archaeologist, said as the expedition commenced. A native of central New York, he began diving in these waters when he was 14. 'I've always been in love with this region,' Ioset said. Now, he is a conduit to that region's prosperous, industrial past. When the Lake Guardian returned briefly to port Thursday in order to host a visit from Oswego High School students, he was inspired by the teenagers' curiosity, their amazement at the secrets buried in the familiar lake. Shipwrecks, after all, belong in the Mediterranean or the Arctic … don't they? Advertisement In fact, the Great Lakes make for a world-class shipwreck museum, albeit one that can be reached only by competent scuba divers or ROVs like Rhody, depending on the wreck's depth. 'These are very clear waters -- you have great visibility of some of the most intact and preserved shipwrecks in the entire world, and some of the oldest,' said Michael R. Pittavino, curator of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego. 'The deep, cool water of the Great Lakes really slows down the degradation of these vessels.' In fact, just three days into the trip, the Lake Guardian's sonar system discovered a new shipwreck, the marine sanctuary's 64th: probably a commercial vessel from the early 19th century, though Ioset said it would take 'a little bit of detective work' to nail down the craft's identity. For the most part, the goal of the trip is not to find new ships but to use Rhody's powerful cameras to capture clear images of ones already known: the Farmer's Daughter, possibly the oldest ship in the sanctuary; the steam-powered tugboat Philip Becker; the Roberval, a steamer whose steel hull proved no match for an enormous wave that sank it in 1916. Distance and weather, among other factors, provide challenges of their own. The expedition's second day was devoted to fixing a technical issue. Then, it took longer than expected to get into position to investigate the Philip Becker, which sank on Nov. 17, 1879. Along with several other ships, it had made its way down the St. Lawrence River, only to be caught in a blizzard on the way to Oswego. Advertisement Rhody's dives last four to six hours and produce images of exceptional clarity and detail. It doesn't hurt that the ships are well preserved, save for the quagga mussels that seem to cling to every surface. The pilot house and ship's wheel on the Philip Becker's deck were clearly visible. Lit by Rhody's cameras, the ship emerged from the darkness with haunting immediacy. The compact contours of Rhody, designed by the Norwegian firm JM Robotics, allow for unique vantage points. It managed to peer inside the hold of the Farmer's Daughter, where Ioset said he could make out ceramics, farm tools and barrels that appeared 'intact.' 'It feels like the team onboard is hitting our stride,' Jason Fahy, an ocean engineer at the University of Rhode Island and the expedition lead, wrote in an update on the expedition's fifth day, shortly after the survey of the Farmer's Daughter. 'From the vessel crew to our most junior undergraduate, everyone has been caught in a state of wonder watching the ROV feed.' The project is the culmination of an effort by local officials to gain recognition for their stretch of the Great Lakes. A year ago, the Biden administration designated a large stretch of eastern Lake Ontario a national marine sanctuary, which confers certain protections -- and a measure of clout. Local and state officials hope that the mostly commercial ships now submerged in hundreds of feet of freshwater spur interest from history buffs and recreational divers. They point to Thunder Bay, a marine sanctuary in northern Michigan whose shipwrecks attract thousands of diving enthusiasts each year to the tiny town of Alpena. Lake Champlain, which straddles New York and Vermont, has also become a diving destination. (Unsurprisingly, shipwreck exploration makes for compelling YouTube videos.) Advertisement 'The sanctuary holds enormous potential to elevate Oswego as a premier destination for history enthusiasts, divers and visitors eager to explore the rich heritage of the Great Lakes region,' Oswego Mayor Robert A. Corradino wrote in an email. Oswego was once the nation's main hub for lumber. 'Shipping on the Great Lakes was a huge thing,' said Lisa M. Glidden, director of the Great Lakes Institute at SUNY Oswego. That was especially the case as the population of American cities on the East Coast exploded in the 19th century and demand for raw materials like lumber surged. 'But coming across that lake can be really dangerous,' Glidden said. 'Even today, people mostly stay close to the shore.' Waves on the lake are shorter than those on the ocean but more frequent, Pittavino explained. 'You have a much more condensed wave pattern that has much more of an ability to destroy a vessel,' he said. Nor could a ship 'outrun a storm on Lake Ontario like you could on an ocean,' he added. 'There's really nowhere to go.' Technological advances and renewed public interest have led to what some have called a 'golden age' of sea-wreck exploration. At the same time, the warmer waters and more turbulent storms caused by climate change could cause sunken ships to deteriorate at a more rapid pace. And the relative accessibility of scuba diving could lead to vandalism and looting. Advertisement 'These will eventually deteriorate,' Ioset said. 'We may have better tools in the future,' but waiting too long may leave little to explore. 'Now is really the time to try to preserve them, because once these are damaged, we can't get them back.' The expedition comes as scientific budgets, including at NOAA, are facing severe cuts. Fahy, who is also a retired Navy commander, argued that shipwreck exploration of the kind he and Ioset were conducting remained a sound investment, since it was 'refining' technology that could have applications across a variety of sectors, including the military. And the wrecks speak to the parts of American history that President Donald Trump seems to favor: commerce, manufacturing, expansion, trade. 'These provide irreplaceable, tangible connections to our history,' Ioset said. He did lament that 'we don't make shipwrecks like we used to.' But that's for the best, he quickly added. This article originally appeared in
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Historic Shipwrecks Come to Light in the Great Lakes
Last week, the Lake Guardian left the port of Oswego, N.Y., preparing to sail into the nation's past. The research vessel, which belongs to the Environmental Protection Agency, is exploring the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, a 1,722-square-mile expanse that stretches from the shoreline of New York State to the (watery) border with Canada. There, 63 ships rest beneath hundreds of feet of cold, clear water. Many had sailed in the service of nation-building some time during the 19th century, only to succumb to bad weather, rough seas, the vagaries of fate. Now, the maritime archaeologists aboard the Lake Guardian — experts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, students from the University of Rhode Island — aim to create detailed three-dimensional computer models of the wrecks, starting with about a dozen ships. They will do so with the help of Rhody, a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, outfitted with a high-definition camera that has provided astonishing images on which those models will be based. (On Friday morning, the team began a YouTube livestream, accessible in the link below, of a vessel marked on a previous survey. In an early morning email, the researchers said they were 'blown away and stunned by what we have found.') 'There's lifetimes worth of research potential here,' Benjamin Ioset, a NOAA maritime archaeologist, said as the expedition commenced. A native of central New York, he began diving in these waters when he was 14. 'I've always been in love with this region,' Dr. Ioset said. Now, he is a conduit to that region's prosperous, industrial past. When the Lake Guardian returned briefly to port on Thursday in order to host a visit from Oswego High School students, he was inspired by the teenagers' curiosity, their amazement at the secrets buried in the familiar lake. Shipwrecks, after all, belong in the Mediterranean or the Arctic … don't they? In fact, the Great Lakes make for a world-class shipwreck museum, albeit one that can be reached only by competent SCUBA divers or ROVs like Rhody, depending on the wreck's depth. 'These are very clear waters — you have great visibility of some of the most intact and preserved shipwrecks in the entire world, and some of the oldest,' said Michael R. Pittavino, curator of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego. 'The deep, cool water of the Great Lakes really slows down the degradation of these vessels.' In fact, just three days into the trip, the Lake Guardian's sonar system discovered a new shipwreck, the marine sanctuary's 64th: probably a commercial vessel from the early 19th century, though Dr. Ioset said it would take 'a little bit of detective work' to nail down the craft's identity. For the most part, the goal of the trip is not to find new ships but to use Rhody's powerful cameras to capture clear images of ones already known: the Farmer's Daughter, possibly the oldest ship in the sanctuary; the steam-powered tugboat Philip Becker; the Roberval, a steamer whose steel hull proved no match for an enormous wave that sank it in 1916. Distance and weather, among other factors, provide challenges of their own. The expedition's second day was devoted to fixing a technical issue. Then, it took longer than expected to get into position to investigate the Philip Becker, which sank on Nov. 17, 1879. Along with several other ships, it had made its way down the St. Lawrence River, only to be caught in a blizzard on the way to Oswego. Rhody's dives last four to six hours and produce images of exceptional clarity and detail. It doesn't hurt that the ships are well preserved, save for the quagga mussels that seem to cling to every surface. The pilot house and ship's wheel on the Philip Becker's deck were clearly visible. Lit by Rhody's cameras, the ship emerged from the darkness with haunting immediacy. The compact contours of Rhody, designed by the Norwegian firm JM Robotics, allow for unique vantage points. It managed to peer inside the hold of the Farmer's Daughter, where Dr. Ioset said he could make out ceramics, farm tools and barrels that appeared 'intact.' 'It feels like the team onboard is hitting our stride,' Jason Fahy, an ocean engineer at the University of Rhode Island and the expedition lead, wrote in an update on the expedition's fifth day, shortly after the survey of the Farmer's Daughter. 'From the vessel crew to our most junior undergraduate, everyone has been caught in a state of wonder watching the ROV feed.' The project is the culmination of an effort by local officials to gain recognition for their stretch of the Great Lakes. A year ago, the Biden administration designated a large stretch of eastern Lake Ontario a national marine sanctuary, which confers certain protections — and a measure of clout. Local and state officials hope that the mostly commercial ships now submerged in hundreds of feet of freshwater spur interest from history buffs and recreational divers. They point to Thunder Bay, a marine sanctuary in northern Michigan whose shipwrecks attract thousands of diving enthusiasts each year to the tiny town of Alpena. Lake Champlain, which straddles New York and Vermont, has also become a diving destination. (Unsurprisingly, shipwreck exploration makes for compelling YouTube videos). 'The sanctuary holds enormous potential to elevate Oswego as a premier destination for history enthusiasts, divers and visitors eager to explore the rich heritage of the Great Lakes region,' Oswego's mayor, Robert A. Corradino, wrote in an email. Oswego was once the nation's main hub for lumber. 'Shipping on the Great Lakes was a huge thing,' said Lisa M. Glidden, director of the Great Lakes Institute at SUNY Oswego. That was especially the case as the population of American cities on the East Coast exploded in the 19th century and demand for raw materials like lumber surged. 'But coming across that lake can be really dangerous,' Dr. Glidden said. 'Even today, people mostly stay close to the shore.' Waves on the lake are shorter than those on the ocean but more frequent, Mr. Pittavino, the Oswego curator, explained. 'You have a much more condensed wave pattern that has much more of an ability to destroy a vessel,' he said. Nor could a ship 'outrun a storm on Lake Ontario like you could on an ocean,' he added. 'There's really nowhere to go.' Technological advances and renewed public interest have led to what some have called a 'golden age' of sea-wreck exploration. At the same time, the warmer waters and more turbulent storms caused by climate change could cause sunken ships to deteriorate at a more rapid pace. And the relative accessibility of SCUBA diving could lead to vandalism and looting. 'These will eventually deteriorate,' Dr. Ioset said. 'We may have better tools in the future,' but waiting too long may leave little to explore. 'Now is really the time to try to preserve them, because once these are damaged, we can't get them back.' The expedition comes as scientific budgets, including at NOAA, are facing severe cuts. Mr. Fahy, who is also a retired Navy commander, argued that shipwreck exploration of the kind he and Dr. Ioset were conducting remained a sound investment, since it was 'refining' technology that could have applications across a variety of sectors, including the military. And the wrecks speak to the parts of American history that President Trump seems to favor: commerce, manufacturing, expansion, trade. 'These provide irreplaceable, tangible connections to our history,' Dr. Ioset said. He did lament that 'we don't make shipwrecks like we used to.' But that's for the best, he quickly added.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pokemon GO Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf raid guide: Best counters, weaknesses, catch CPs, best tips, and more
Lake Guardians (Image via The Pokemon Company) The Lake Guardian legendaries Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are back in Pokemon GO's 5-Star Raids. This raid guide covers their weaknesses, top counters, and how to catch them before they disappear. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf weaknesses in Pokemon GO All three Lake Guardians are pure Psychic-types, making them weak to Dark, Ghost, and Bug-type moves. Dark-types are the safest choice since Azelf can counter Bug-types with Fire Blast. They resist Fighting and Psychic-type attacks, so avoid using those in battle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Key weaknesses: - Dark-type moves - Ghost-type moves - Bug-type moves Best counters for Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in Pokemon GO Top Counters for UXIE, AZELF & MESPRIT! Here are the top Pokemon and movesets to defeat the Lake Guardians: Pokémon Best Moveset Banette Shadow Claw & Shadow Ball Darkrai Snarl & Shadow Ball Dawn Wings Necrozma Shadow Claw & Moongeist Beam Gengar Lick & Shadow Ball Houndoom Snarl & Foul Play Hydreigon Bite & Brutal Swing Mega Absol Snarl & Brutal Swing Mega Tyranitar Bite & Brutal Swing Shadow Chandelure Hex & Shadow Ball Shadow Weavile Snarl & Foul Play If you don't have these exact Pokemon, use their regular versions or any strong Dark, Ghost, or Bug-types with matching moves. How to get Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in Pokemon GO The Lake Guardians are available in 5-Star Raids from May 12 to May 25, 2025, with Raid Hours on May 14 and May 21. Since they are region-locked, you'll only find them in specific locations: - Uxie: Asia-Pacific - Mesprit: Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India - Azelf: Americas and Greenland After defeating them in raids, use Golden Razz Berries and aim for Excellent Curveball Throws to maximize catch chances. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf CP ranges in Pokemon GO Their CP varies between raids and catches, with weather boosts increasing their strength: Pokémon Raid Boss CP CP When Caught Windy Weather CP Max CP (Lv. 50) Uxie 35,356 1370 – 1442 1712 – 1803 2853 Mesprit 41,887 1669 – 1747 2086 – 2184 3457 Azelf 44,972 1752 – 1834 2190 – 2293 3629 Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf stats and moves Here's how their base stats compare: Pokémon Attack Defense Stamina Max CP Uxie 156 270 181 2853 Mesprit 212 212 190 3457 Azelf 270 151 181 3629 Also read: Pokemon GO Mega Gyarados raid guide - Best counters, strengths, weaknesses, catch CPs, best tips, and more Can Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf be shiny? Yes, all three have shiny versions in Pokemon GO. Their bodies turn bright yellow, while their heads darken slightly. Shiny rates are low, but if you encounter one in a raid, it's a guaranteed catch if you hit it with a Premier Ball.
