Image Archive

The Diva hydrothermal vent, is a 277°C small, fragile anhydrite (CaSO4) structure in the International District vent field on Axial Volcano. The chimney is of interest because it has the highest carbon dioxide concentrations of any of the chimneys within the Axial caldera. In 2014, it will host an instrument developed by Dr. Bill Seyfried, University of Minnesota,  that will provide real-time streaming data on acidity, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen and temperature of the vent fluids. VISIONS '13, Leg 4. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

A short-period seismometer (OBSSPA301) is installed ~1.3 km east of the ASHES hydrothermal field. A cable connects to a medium power junction box in the field. During testing with ROPOS, this seismometer recorded a small earthquake. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R1640; V13.

A Deep-Sea Cucumber (Holothurian) is shown with brittle stars and a seastar on a lobate flow on Axial Volcano. This is likely the species Pannychia moseleyi. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; V13

A resistivity-temperature probe, developed by Dr. Marv Lilley at the University of Washington, was deployed into a 270°C actively venting orifice on the chimney called Escargot. Resistivity is an analogue for chlorinity. Some of the vents in the International District are boiling, causing release of very gas-rich, low-salinity fluids. This instrument, recovered on ROPOS dive 1638, was deployed on a small ledge on the structure a few weeks previously with power provided by batteries in the titanium housing. The orange-white taped cable leads to the wand that is inserted into the chimney (not shown in this image). The white, feathery material on the outside of the chimney is filamentous bacteria, supported by low-temperature diffuse fluids that waft up the side of the chimney. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

An Argo Float just being released from the R/V Thompson during the VISIONS'13 program. It will collect chemical measurements to depths of 1000 m, surfacing every 5-10 days to transmit these data back to shore via a satellite. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

University of Washington, School of Oceanography undergraduate student - Charlie Parker- deploys an Argo float over Axial Seamount during the VISIONS'13 program. The float wil submerge to 1000 m beneath the surface, taking chemical measurements along the way, and every 5-10 days will surface and transmit these data over a satellite to shore. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Charlie watches an Argo Float drift past the R/V Thompson following his deployment of it 200 m northeast of the Primary Node location for the Regional Scale Nodes program. We are especially anxious to see the results of the ISUS nitrate sensor on it as it makes measurements above Axial Seamount. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Many of the days on site during VISIONS'13 were overcast with calm seas...perfect for diving.

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The summit of this hydrothermal chimney, called 'Eascargot', has a striking resemblance to a snail. A 270°C actively venting site (two small white chimneys mid structure) will host a cabled temperature-resistivity sensor there in 2014. This sensor will provide real-time data on the fluid chemistry (chlorinity) -temperature relationships inside the vent. The instrument was designed by Marv Lilley, University of Washington. VISIONS '13, Leg 4. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

Brendan and Giora analyze gases in hydrothermal fluids from the chimneys called 'Diva' and 'Escargo' in the International District Hydrothermal Field on Axial Volcano. The fluids are sampled using highly specialized tiranium water samplers to collect 'gas tight' samples, and analyzed onboard the Thompson using a gas chromatograph. Photo Credit: Deborah Kelley, University of Washington.

Brittle stars of the species Spinophiura jolliveti are very abundant on all the lava rocks at Axial Seamount within the caldera. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF.

This short-period seismometer was deployed on a flat sheet flow ~ 1.3 km east of the ASHES hydrothermal field in 2013. The black ball in the yellow circle shows that it is perfectly level, helping to insure that the highest quality data comes off of this network. Axial Volcano is likely to be quite seismically active and we are anxious to get the real-time data on shore next year. This will help us understand magma and fluid migration in the subsurface of the volcano...and eventually these data may help us predict an eruption. Several earthquakes were detected in real-time during testing of these seismometers in 2013. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R1635; V13.

Paul gives a tour of the T/V Thompsons engine room to VISIONS'13 students.

Inside the ROV ROPOS control room, the science and engineering team watches in amazement at the life that thrives around the hydrothermal vents. Here, microbial experiements are being recovered from the structure Mushroom using the 7 manipulator function arm of ROPOS. The experiments will be used by Harvard graduate student H. Olins to study the metabolisms of microbes in these extreme environments. Photo Credit: Caitlin Russell, Boston University.

Caitlin looks at a microbial experiment brought up from hydrothermal diffuse flow site at the base of the chimney called Mushroom: water depth ~ 5000 ft. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

High-temperature, near-boiling fluids jet from small spigots on the top of the metal-sulfide, black-smoker chimney called El Guapo (the handsome one) in the International District Hydrothermal Field. VISIONS '13, Leg 4. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

Water streams off ROPOS as it is being recovered onto the deck of the R/V Thompson - it was a beautiful blue-sky day. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington. VISIONS '13, Leg 4

A break in the overcast days brings on great sunny weather for sampling water from the CTD. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washingotn.

A Mola mola (or sunfish) gently passes by the R/V Thompson - they are the heaviest known bony fish. The other day we saw albatross picking parasites off of them as they wafted by. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V13.

The ROV ROPOS powers up the RSN-OOI camera for the first time at the hydrothermal chimney called Mushroom. This image is from ROPOS with the vehicle lights off, and only the RSN-OOI HD camera providing illumination of the chimney while collecting the first video imagery from the seafloor, which was then streamed live over the Internet. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF.

Caitlin and Andrew take water samples from a CTD cast ~ 125 km off the coast of Oregon to characterize fluids up to 9000 ft beneath the oceans surface.

A large Fried Egg Jellyfish (Phacellophora cantschatica) hugs the basalts along the floor of Axial Seamount. The jellyfish is likely a 'fried egg' jelly. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1635, V11.

A bit of relaxation time on a cloudy, but mild Sunday morning...Day 41 on the R/V Thompson for Brendan Philip. Photo Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

A 3D thermistor array designed by RSN Project Scientist Dr. Giora Proskurowski is deployed in the ASHES vent field for testing. A similar system will be deployed and powered up next summer, providing real-time 24/7 temperature data over the Internet for all to use/see. The blue cable holds 24 temperature sensors and was provided by RBR Ltd. The array will be placed in a diffuse flow site at the base of the vent called Mushroom, a site hosting abundant vent fauna. These data, coupled with seismic information, fluid chemistry, and HD imagery will be used to see how these systems evolve over time and how earthquakes influence chemical and biological processes. VISIONS '13, Leg 4   Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

This 60-m extension cable will soon host a high-definition video camera to be deployed at the Mushroom hydrothermal vent (far left). White microbial mats along narrow fractures in the lobate lava flows mark areas where low-temperature diffuse hydrothermal fluids issue from the seafloor. The 7-function manipulator arms of the Canadian ROV ROPOS gently place the wet-mate connector holding plate on the seafloor. VISIONS '13 Leg 4 Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF.

The 3D thermistor array designed by RCA Project Scientist Giora Proskurowski is attached to the Medium Powered J-BOx (MJ03B) in the ASHES hydrothermal field. The array will be tested on a follow-on dive, and in 2014 it will be deployed in a diffuse flow site at the base of the vent called Mushroom, along with a high-definition video camera and an osmo vent fluid sampler. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V13.