Image Archive

ROPOS Deploying the Axial Base Science Pod

ROPOS Latched Into the Axial Base Science Pod

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Deb Kelley, Chief Scientist on the Pythias Oasis NSF-funded expedition, holds a piece of methane hydrate recovered from beneath the seafloor at Pythias Oasis during coring operations. Credit: Mitch Elend, University of Washington.

Evan Solomon, UW Co-Chief Scientist on the Pythias Oasis Expedition, holds a piece of methane hydrate recovered from beneath Pythias Oasis during coring operations. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

A spider crab investigates the Pythias Oasis vent during the 2019 expedition with Jason. Credit: UW/NSF/WHOI.

The ROV Jason images the steep edge of the collapse pit on the Pythais Oasis Ridge. Credit:UW/NSF/WHOI; J2-1225.

Abundant macrofauna make their home on the Pythias Oasis Ridge. These include sea pigs (multi-legged critters), anemones, rock fish, and hagfish. Credit: UW/NSF/WHOI; J2-1225.

Figure 4.Neptunia stalks_anemones_PythaisSDI1_2015-07-24 0_54_39_07762

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.