Image Archive

El Gordo, at International District, is a site for Regional Cabled Array instrumentation in 2014. Brown tubes are stressed tubeworms covered in filamentous bacteria. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1719; V14.

Ciliates, purple single-celled Protists, colonize the base of Escargot hydrothermal vent. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI//CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1719; V14.

The large pink octopus (likely Muusoctopus sp.) sits on a ledge at Escargot hydrothermal vent in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1719; V14.

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A large salp drifted by the camera near to the cable at the base of Axial.  Salps are planktonic Tunicates, which belong to Phylum Chordata, along with all vertebrate organisms. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; V13.

Just prior to launching, ROPOS is lifted by the crane and placed on top of, then mated to, ROCLS. Photo credit: Christina Ramirez, University of Washington, V14.

Medium-Power Junction Box MJ03C rests on the platform for ROPOS, awaiting connection to the underbelly of ROPOS. This node was installed on the seafloor during dive R1717.

Brendan Philip, a recent graduate from the School of Oceanography undergraduate program, designed and ran this EM302 bathymetric survey in the area where two RSN-OOI moorings will be installed at the base of Axial Seamount. Photo credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington, V14.

The ROV ROPOS has an RSN-OOI , medium-powered junction box, MJ03C, secured to its underbelly for transport to the International District hydrothermal vent field. The junction box will provide power and communication to a diverse suite of chemical, temperature, and biological sensors, in addition to a digital still camera. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1717; V14.

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Dana Manalang and Eric Olsen (UW) work with UW students Gina Hansen and Don Setiawan to.prepare the end of a fiber optic cable segment so that it can be spooled by hand onto the large cable spool. The spool will then be transported by ROCLS for installation on the seafloor.  Photo credit:  Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V14.

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Safety is always the #1 priority, even with the scientific mission.  Photo credit: Charles Garcia, University of Washington, V14.

Leg 1 University of Washington participants Skip Denny, Katie Bigham and Sam Albertson watch ROPOS' progress during dive R1716.  Each action viewed and recorded on HD video must be carefully logged and documented with still photographs. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1716; V14.

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The El Gordo Vent is located in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V14.

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Holothurians and brittle stars at the base of Axial Seamount. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1717; V14.

The 1 km extension cable from the Primary Node PN3A at the base of Axial Seamount is connected to the low voltage node LV013A, which will feed the two moorings at this site. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1717; V14.

Students who participate on VISIONS cruises are fully engaged in the scientific pursuits while onboard the R/V Thompson, including the detailed logging of ROV ROPOS dives.  Photo credit:  Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V14

A Big Red jellyfish (Tiburonia granrojo) swims past the high-definition camera on the remotely operated vehicle ROPOS. The water depth was 1547 m (5075 ft) beneath the ocean's surface. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1716; V14.

ROPOS uses a T-handle to latch into the top of the ROCLS cable drum. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1716; V14.

Several species of macrofauna inhabit the thick sediments at the base of Axial Seamount.  A large sea cucumber deep sea Holothurian coexists with abundant brittle stars and Peniagone sea cucumbers. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14.

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This large sea cucumber (Holothurian) was seen with many smaller sea cucumbers of Genus Peniagone at the base of Axial.  Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14.

The ROV ROPOS is one of only a very few robotic vehicles that can install extension cables deep beneath the ocean's surface. Here, numerous screens provide updates on the postion of the R/V Thompson 8500 feet above the vehicle, the location of ROPOS, and cable lay information. This image was taken during Dive R1715, installation of the first cable on the VISIONS '14 expedition. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington; V14.