WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii has been awarded $2,881,455 for Fiscal Year 2009 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“These resources support important research that enhances our understanding of deep sea ecosystems, while sustaining U.S. leadership in this field,” Akaka said. “The valuable information gained can help us plan for climate change and improve management and restoration of vital ocean resources.”
The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is the Hawaii and Western Pacific headquarters for NOAA's Undersea Research Program. Its mission is to study deep water marine processes in the Pacific Ocean.
“The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is vital to the study and understanding of deep ocean processes,” Inouye said. “The continued funding of this laboratory maintains the vast potential for new discoveries and continues to broaden our understanding of deep sea geology and its impact on ecosystem and climate change.”

More information at http://imina.soest.hawaii.edu/HURL/.