Image Archive

A digital still camera, mass spectrometer, and fluid and microbial DNA sampler installed at the El Gordo hydrothermal chimney, International District Hydrothermal Field, Axial Seamount. A small, 1-day old chimlet sprouts from the 280°C, gas-rich vent called Dive in the International District Hydrothermal Field. NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1839; V15.

Collapse basins marked by columns, drainback features, and arches are common features in areas where lava ponded and spilled rapidly over the seafloor in 2011. A small, 1-day old chimlet sprouts from the 280°C, gas-rich vent called Dive in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1839; V15.

A small, 1-day old chimlet sprouts from the 280°C, gas-rich vent called Dive in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1839; V15.

A huge rattail, ~ 5 feet in length, swims slowly in front of the ROV ROPOS near the International District Hydrothermal Field at a depth of 5000 ft beneath the ocean's surface. This area has a higher abundance of these fish than observed elsewhere in the caldera, perhaps because of the larger size of the vent field and hence food source. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1729; V15.

The newly installed digital still camera at the El Gordo vent within the International District hydrothermal field catches ROPOS above the mass spectrometer. Credit: NSF/OOI/UW, V15.

Malea and Diana laugh, recognizing they both dressed alike during a morning on the R/V Thompson expedition. Credit: Ed McNichol, V15.

The ROPOS control room onboard the R/V Thompson is a magical place for many where we get to see parts of the ocean never before seen, and first of their kind operations. 

The RO ROPOS holds a 'IGT' gas tight bottle in the orifice of the 280°C chimney called Diva. The high temperature fluids exiting the seafloor at this anhydrite-rich (CaSO4) vent contain the highest carbon dioxide concentrations at Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1836; V15.

Pyconogonids are abundant on many sulfide structures in the vent fields within the caldera of Axial Seamount. These 8-legged anthropods are commonly found in areas where venting has stopped, leaving variably oxidized edificies. Here, they are associated with snails an a small scale worm ~ 1 cm; in length. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1836; V15.

An Osmotic fluid sampler is installed in a small diffuse flow site hosting abundant tubeworms, limpets, and palm worms in the ASHES hydrothermal fluid. When recovered next year, the fluids this sampler host will provide information on how vent fluid chemistry changes over time. The nozzle iis installed inside a triangular 3D thermistor array is Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1835; V15.

A lush community of vibrant red tube worms grows on a 1 m tall black smoker chimney in the ASHES hydrothermal field. The tube worms, which are hosted in white housings about the diameter of your small finger, are intergrown with brown palm worms.Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1835; V15.

A new high definition camera was installed at the hydrothermal vent called 'Mushroom' in the ASHES hydrothermal field atop Axial Volcano. The camera, built by the UW Applied Physics Lab, was tested today and streamed live HD imagery >300 miles back to shore from a water depth of >5000 m. Credit: Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1835; V15.

A squadron of Dall porpoises graced the R/V Thompson on July 7. Credit: Ed McNichol, University of Washington, V15.

ROPOS breaches the surface during Leg 1 of the Cabled Array Expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

The fantail of the R/V Thompson loaded with junction boxes, science pods for the Shallow Profiler Moorings, and a variety of instruments. Credit: Jesse Turner, University of Washington, V15.

A side-looking view of the 12 ft-across Shallow Profiler Mooring platform hosting newly installed instrumented science pods. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/ISS; Dive R1831; V15.

The ROV ROPOS begins its ~600 ft descent to the Shallow Profiler Mooring at the Slope Base site with an instrumented Winched Shallow Profiler 'pod' latched to its underbelly. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

Malea learns how to conduct oxygen analyses on seawater from >130 km offshore Newport Oregon. Credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington, V15.

Jessica helps launch the CTD at the beginning of the Cabled Array VISIONS'15 expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Kadijah learns how to do titration analyses of dissolved oxygen in fluids from up to 1000 m water depth on the VISIONS'15 cruise. Credit: Deb Kelley, University of Washington.

Katie smiles - It is good to be back out at sea onboard the R/V Thompson on the VISIONS'15 expedition. Credit: Lauren Kowalski, University of Washington.

Jessica stands next to the R/V Thompson just before she pulls away from the dock to begin the Cabled Array VISIONS'15 Expedition. Credit: Jessica Noe, University of Washington.

Diana successfully gets into a survivial suit during safety training on the first day of the Cabled Array VISIONS15 expedition. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington, V15.

The R/V Thompson awaits opening of the  Ballard Locks early in the morning of July 4, 2015. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

ROPOS comes out of the water during a 'dunk test' in Puget Sound. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Kearstin, Malea, and Jessica peer out from behind immersion suit hoods during survival suit practice. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Undergraduate students from the UW School of Oceanography practice getting into emergency immersion suits during the first leg of the Cabled Array VISIONS'15 cruise. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.