Image Archive

A frozen ball of lava with a bread crust rind at the summit of Axial Seamount. Small brittle stars call these rocks home. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R2246; V22.

The digital still camera visited during the RCA 2022 expedition is covered in filamentous bacteria, thriving on diffuse flowing fluids. The camera is at the Tiny Towers vent site in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R2246, V22.

Small bubbles are emitted from the anhydrite - sulfide chimney 'Diva' in the International District Hydrothermal Field. The vent fluids are extremely enriched in carbon dioxide. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R2210; V22.

This map shows the location of Regional Cabled Array infrastructure at the Slope Base site in 2022. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

Infrastructure for the Regional Cabled Array is shown on top of a bathymetric map of Southern Hydrate Ridge in 2022. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

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Looking down on a galatheid crab sitting on the rope attached to a marker next to the anchor of the Slope Base profiler mooring in 2900 meters (~9500 feet) of water. A number of venus flytrap anemones are also attached to the hard surfaces here. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2258, V22

This triangular object is a 3D temperature array: 4 stacked arrays with 24 independent temperature measurement points, providing a three-dimensional distribution of temperature flow across the seafloor at ASHES vent field on Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2249, V22

The HD video camera records changes in the Mushroom hydrothermal vent in the ASHES vent field on Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2249, V22

A blue shark investigating the deep profiler recovery frame attached to the front of ROPOS at the Oregon Offshore site. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2229, V22

Looking down at the HD video camera, which records changes in the Mushroom hydrothermal vent in the ASHES vent field on Axial Seamount. The COVIS sonar system can be seen in the background. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2249, V22

A temperature sensor sticking out of a hydrothermal vent chimney at ASHES vent field on Axial Seamount. These record temperature changes in the superheated vent fluid. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2249, V22

A blob sculpin rests near the Tiny Towers vents in Axial Caldera, where the fluid sampling vent cap monitors and collects hydrothermal vent fluids for the PPS (Particulate DNA Sampler), which allows collection, filtering, and preservation of microbial DNA. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2246, V22

A white sea cucumber and a large number of brittle stars crawl over the basalt rock on the Western flank of Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2245, V22

A soft coral with polyps extended next to another with polyps retracted, clinging to the underside of a ledge on the Western flank of Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2245, V22

Overhead shot of a blob sculpin sitting atop a mound near the Trevi Vent in Axial Caldera. A white sea cucumber and a large number of brittle stars crawl over the basalt rock on the Western flank of Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2244, V22

The cavernous hole formed by a collapsed lava bubble near the Trevi vent in Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2244, V22

A spider crab crawling next to a cavernous hole formed by a collapsed lava bubble near the Trevi vent at Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2244, V22

A deep-sea purple octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) seen during a survey on the Eastern flank of Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2243, V22

A dinner plate jelly seen during the ROV ascent following a survey dive at Central Caldera on Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2241, V22

A deep-sea purple octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) sitting on a jumbled lava flow at the ASHES vent field in Axial Caldera. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2240, V22

A blue shark investigating the deep profiler recovery frame attached to the front of ROPOS at the Oregon Offshore site. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2231, V22

A blue shark investigating the deep profiler recovery frame attached to the front of ROPOS at the Oregon Offshore site. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2229, V22

A fish swims past ROPOS as it approaches the top bumper of the Deep Profiler mooring cable. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2229, V22

A warty, deep-sea purple octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) hiding beneath a ledge on a lava pillar at Axial Seamount. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2213, V22

The yellow pillars are vertical egg cases laid by Neptunea snails at Pinnacle, near Southern Hydrate Ridge, providing cover for rockfish and crabs. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2228, V22

A crevice opened up in the sediment and carbonate rock near Southern Hydrate Ridge (likely due to methane gas and hydrate buildup beneath the surface) is filled with white, sulfide oxidizing bacterial mats. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2228, V22