Image Archive

ROPOS Deploying the Axial Base Science Pod

ROPOS Latched Into the Axial Base Science Pod

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Shallow Profiler Mooring Deployed Observed by Cleo

Beautiful clams and anemones thrive in areas where methane is seeping from the seafloor at Pythais Oasis. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V15.

A deep pit formed by blow outs of methane are common in the colapse pit at Ptyhais Oasis. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V15.

The main orifice at Pythias Oasis is marked by what is thought to be an iron oxide deposit. Clams, light bacterial mats, and a sole are nearby. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, V15.

Thick white and orange bacterial mats line the edge of the collapse pit at Pythias Oasis. Carbonate blocks mark the edge of the pit. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V15

Close up of the main vent at Pythias Oasis as first seen by the Canadian remotely operated vehicle ROPOS in 2015. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF

This squished-looking Flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.) was seen at Southern Hydrate Ridge during a site survey in 2022. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R2228, V22.

This rosy Tritonia tetraquetra nudibranch was seen sitting on a marker at the Pinnacle, west of Southern Hydrate Ridge. It was near some soft corals, some of which were missing polyps, and had clearly been grazed on by this sea pen and soft coral specialist predator! Photo credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, Dive R2228, V22.

A rock fish enters the collapse cavern in Einstein's Grotto. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V22.

The ROV ROPOS off the side of the R/V Thompson, latched into the Axial Base Science Pod to be deployed on the Shallow Profiler Mooring. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington, V22.

The Canadian ROV ROPOS is lowered off the side of the RV Thompson. It is latched into the Axial Base Science Pod for installation onto the Shallow Profiler Mooring during VISIONS'22. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington, V22.

Bathydoris aioca, an unusually large (~30 cm) deep-sea nudibranch, was part of a unique community of invertebrates gathered around the anchor of the Slope Base profiler mooring in 2900 meters (~9500 feet) of water, also including flytrap anemones, galatheid crabs, and sea cucumbers. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R2258, V22

Unidentified deep-sea nudibranchs found on equipment at approximately 1267 m during a dive at Central Axial Caldera. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive J2-1375; V21.

A Fathead Sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus), also known as a blob sculpin, resting on the seafloor during a dive to the International District. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/UW/WHOI; Dive J2-1381; V21.

This rattail fish (Coryphaenoides acrolepis), seen amidst the vents in the International District at 1518 m, was incredibly curious about the equipment that Jason was working with. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; Dive J2-1380; V21.

An unidentified, swimming sea cucumber seen at approximately 1274 m on a ROPOS dive to the Central Axial Caldera. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive J2-1376; V21.

An unidentified sea star (possibly Henricia sp.) near one of the vents during a dive to the International District. It remained next to the chimney, despite the heat exuded by the vent plume. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive J2-1381; V21.

A deep-sea crab from the family Lithodidae seen at International District. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive J2-1378; V21.

This blue shark was the highlight of the Slope Base Deep Profiler dive as he moved around the ROV Jason. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; Dive J2-1367; V21.

A brown catshark (Apristurus brunneus) at Southern Hydrate Ridge, seen during a site survey during VISIONS'22. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, ROPOS Dive R2224, V22.

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The R/V Thompson heads out towards the Yaquina channel into the Pacific at the start of Leg 5. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington, V22.

The two manipulator arms of ROPOS are used to plug in the extension cable to the electro-optical cable on the Shallow Profiler Mooring at Slope Base. Credit. UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, R2256, V22.

An octopus moves along the sedimented seafloor at the Slope Base site. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R2256, V22.

An intricate configuration of gear is used on the fantail of R/V Thompson to spool >3000 m of electro-optical cable onto the medium lift winch for follow-on installation of the Shallow Profiler mooring. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington, V22.

Two floats at the top of the mechanical leg trail out from the newly deployed Shallow Profiler Mooring platform. The cormorant, Cleo, observes operations on this calm day. Credit; T. Litchendorf, University of Washington, V22.

The friendly cormorant "Cleo" hangs our with his/her new found APL engineer friend 'Trina' on the fantail of the R/V Thompson. Credit: T. Litchendorf, University of Washington, V22.