Image Archive

The Remotely Operated Cable Laying System (ROCLS) shown deployed at the summit of Axial Seamount near Primary Node 3B (water depth ~ 5000 ft). The drum holds ~ 2000 ft of cable that will soon be deployed. Once a small section of the cable is secured to the secondary node (in distance, on left), ROPOS will latch into the top of ROCLS and "fly" through the water column, deploying cable underneath it as it travels. Photo Credit NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF.

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Pressure data were collected in real-time from 8000 ft beneath the ocean's surface to the ship, through a junction box on the seafloor powered by the ROV and providing communications from the seafloor to the ship through its fiber-optic cable. This was the first end-to-end test of the junction boxes, extension cables, and instruments.

it is always a good day at sea when the waters are calm and the skies are blue.

A Roughtail skate slowly swims by during ROV operations at the base of Axial Volcano. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; V13.

A fish at 8000 ft beneath the surface investigates ROV operations at the summit of Axial Volcano. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

View of the front porch of ROPOS showing a connection from the RSN Interface Box on ROPOS to an extension cable that is 1800 feet in length connected to a Secondary Junction Box (another power and communications outlet on the seafloor). The connector with the orange handle is "wet-mateable", meaning that it can be unplugged and plugged in on the seafloor.  When disconnected, it is placed in a parking position to keep the connectors clean and safe (stand with red handle to the right).   Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

A pressure sensor deployed on the seafloor is powered up for the first time through fiber optic cables, sending data live to the ship >8000 feet above.   Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

The medium powered Junction Box (MJ01A) is connected to > 1800 feet of extension cable deployed by ROPOS on the seafloor at the base of Axial Seamount. A pressure sensor inside the node is awaiting deployment for follow-on testing. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

Deployed at the base of Axial Seamount, this secondary node was used as an anchor during the deployment of 600 m of extension cable and during testing while ROPOS dowloaded data from a pressure sensor and current meter. (credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF)

Applied Physics Lab engineers (from left to right) Tim McGinnis, Jesse Dosher, and James Tilley look over tests results as ROPOS connects to a secondary node on the seafloor and sends real-time data back to the surface. Photo by Ed McNichol 

ROPOS pilot and engineer, Josh Chernov, works on the ROV. Photo by Ed McNichol 

Mitch Elend works on creating maps that the ROPOS team will use as a guide as they lay OOI-RSN extension cables. Photo by Ed McNichol 

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During dive R-1600, ROPOS connects the 600 m cable deployed at the base of Axial Seamount to a test box on the vehicle to the secondary node at the other end. (credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF)

Brittle stars (Ophiuroids) are very common in the sediments at the base of Axial Seamount, 2609 meters deep.  (credit: NSF-OOI/US/CSSF)

An albatross comes in for a landing near R/V Thomas G. Thompson. (photos by Allison Fundis, University of Washington, V13)   

ROPOS approaches the cable laying system ROCLS at the base of Axial Seamount. The drum hosts 600 m of extension cable. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF

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Julie Nelson and Orest Kawka sample the CTD water cast after collecting samples from the base of Axial Seamount. Photo by Allison Fundis

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Leaving Newport Oregon for Southern Hydrate Ridge, the Cascadia Margin, and Axial Volcano.

The CTD was about to go into the water at Southern Hydrate Ridge to sample methane-rich fluids rising in a plume 100's of meters above the seafloor.

Chief Scientist John Delaney (right) narrates the live video stream as ROPOS pilot Josh Chernov approaches ROCLS, the remotely operated cable laying system, on the seafloor. Photo by Allison Fundis

Graduate student Judy Twedt stand watch as data logger during the ROV ROPOS dive. Photo by Allison Fundis

Steaming to Southern Hydrate Ridge to begin dive operations with the ROV ROPOS.

Day 1, leaving Seattle for over a month at sea aboard the UW's research ship, the R/V Thompson.