Image Archive

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.

screenshot2014-07-20at1.44.03pm_med

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.

screenshot2014-07-20at12.54.00pm_med

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.

screenshot2014-07-20at12.17.06pm_med

screenshot2014-07-20at11.15.14am_med

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

screenshot2014-07-20at10.38.36am_bigger

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.

r1712-highlights-large-540p

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.

The Canadian ROV ROPOS is latched into the ROCLS cable laying system, taking a 1 km-long extension cable down to the seafloor at the base of Axial Seamount. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V14.

The ROCLS cable drum is unlatched on the seafloor at the base of Axial Seamount near PN3A at a depth of 2600 m. The cable, once plugged into a junction box and Primary Node, will power and communicate with ~2600 m-tall (8500 ft) instrumented moorings, as well as seafloor instruments. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14.

Cable RS03W4, a 1 km extension cable, sits on the ROPOS work platform awaiting attachment to ROCLS on the underbelly of the ROV ROPOS. Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1715; V14.

The ROPOS remotely operated cable laying system (ROCLS) is awaiting attachment to the underbelly of ROPOS. The cable will be installed at the base of Axial Seaount. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V14.

John Wonderly, from Clallam Bay school, collects fluid samples during the VISIONS14 expedition. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington; V14.