In May, NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey released the NOAA Ship
Thomas Jefferson from her planned hydrographic survey
assignments, to enable timely scientific missions near the BP
Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Beginning June 3, Thomas Jefferson
began a new research mission. The objectives of this mission are
to develop a robust methodology for detection of submerged oil,
and to then use that technology to detect if there is oil
entering the coastal zone and to run baseline transects from the
spill site toward the west. On June 2, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA
Administrator, briefed reporters on the June research mission
being undertaken by the Thomas Jefferson. She was joined by
Cmdr. Shepard Smith, commanding officer of the Thomas Jefferson,
and Dr. Larry Mayer, professor and director of the University of
New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. Listen to
audio of the briefing here. For information about the response
effort, visit http://www.restorethegulf.gov.