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A variety of geophysical sensors are deployed at the base of Axial Seamount to monitor seismic events on the Juan de Fuca plate.

Axial Seamount is the most magmatically robust volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge spreading center. It hosts numerous active hydrothermal fields and abundant sites of diffuse flow.

ASHES Vent Field Caption

A weather disturbance in the Gulf of Alaska June 25, 2018, is sending large swells into our work area that prevents diving with heavy packages. This screen grab is from the https://earth.nullschool.net/ site, which we frequently use to get an overview of conditions across the Pacific and more locally. The one shown here is of winds.

Cabled infrastructure at the Oregon Endurance Shelf site, in 80 m of water, obtains power and communications from Primary Node PN1D located ~ 17 km to the west. The site is impacted by strong currents with very turbid water due to high productivity. Credit. D. Kelley and CEV, University of Washington.

Cabled Array core infrastructure and instruments at the summit of Axial Seamount. Also shown in yellow are new instruments funded by the National Science Foundation (COVIS sonar,self calibrating pressure sensor, and flipping tilt meter) and an 3D temperature array platform that will be installed this year, followed by the instrument array next year funded by the Office of Navy Reserach. Credit. D. Kelley and CEV, University of Washington.

Location of Cabled Array infrastructure at Axial Base in 2017 and positions of CTD casts. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

Perspective view of Cabled Array infrastructure at the base of Axial Seamount (~2600 m water depth).

The National Science Foundations' Ocean Observatories Initiative Regional Cabled Observatory spans the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate. Two high power and bandwidth submarine fiber optic cables (900 km total in length) link to Axial Seamount and to several margin sites off of Newport Oregon.

Bathymetric map showing OOI core infrastructure as installed in 2017 at the Slope Base site. Credit: M. Elend, University of Washington.

RSN Locator Map

The Cabled Array high power and bandwidth fiber optic cables extend from coastal to blue water environments, that include the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the largest volcano off of the Washington-Oregon coast, Axial Seamount. The ~ 900 km of cable provides two-way communications and data flow at the speed of light to 140 instruments and 2900 m-tall moorings with instrumented profilers that have been operational since 2015. Credit: University of Washington.

OOI Cable Array Map

Cabled infrastructure now installed at Southern Hydrate Ridge providing real-time data to shore. The main focus site is called 'Enstein's Grotto, a site where vigorous venting of methane bubbles rise several hundred meters above the seafloor. Credit: University of Washington.

Slope Base PN1A Pano Image

Mid Plate PN5A Pano Image

Endurance Shelf PN1D Pano Image

Endurance PN1C Pano Image

Axial Base PN3A Pano Image2

Axial Base PN3A Pano Image

The summit of Axial Volcano now hosts 20 instruments, many of which are now streaming data live to shore.

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A huge hurricane strength storm currently sits 1000 miles offshore and moving towards our working area. While the storm will diminish by the time it reaches the cabled observatory site, it will have generated very large seas that make working with the ROV impossible until at least Friday morning the 26th of September. Credit: passageweather.com

There are three shallow profilers that will be installed on the cabled observatory. These state-of-the-art two-legged moorings include a 13 ft-across platform at ~ 200 m water depth. The large platform hosts an instrumented shallow winched profiler, which makes several trips a day from ~ 200 meters water depth to just beneath the oceans surface. It also hosts an instrumented platform that includes larger instruments such as a 5-beam ADCP, zooplankton sonar, and a digital still camera. Image Credit: Center for Environmental Visualization, UW. V14

Diagram of video transport, web encoding and distribution. Image credit: Center for Environmental Visualization.

On August 8, 2014 all secondary infrastructure at the summit of Axial Seamount was connected to the Primary Infrastructure. Image Credit: University of Washington, V14.

Hydrate 1

Southern Hydrate Ridge Bathymetry

Axial Caldera ROPOS Dive 1727

During Leg 1 of the OOI-NSF VISIONS'14 Expedition, we are making significant progress in the installation of secondary infrastructure at the summit of Axial Seamount. Infrastructure shown in green is deployed on the seafloor. During ROPOS Dive R1727, the ~ 4.6 km extension cable from PN3B to MJ03F at Central Caldera will be installed, completing this site. Image Credit: University of Washington, V14.

Disney Motion Picture Poster

1970

By Pierre Denys de Montfort

The Oregon Inshore Site will host both cabled and uncabled infrastructure. During the VISIONS'14 cruise, it is anticipated that a Surface Piercing Profiler system, a Benthic Experiemtal Platform, and associated instruments will be installed.

The Slope Base Site is located at PN1A at a depth of ~2900 m. It will host a state-of-the-art instrumented Shallow Profiling Mooring, a Deep Profiling Mooring, and an array of seafloor instruments.

Safety Advisory Image Example 2

Safety Advisory Image Example

A new generation of marine research and oceanographic discovery in the San Juan Islands

Visions'14 Application Image

The RSN Deep Profiler (DP) system is designed to collect oceanographic data profiles in water depths of up to 3000m. The DP system includes a modified McLane Mooring Profiler (MMP) vehicle that uses a motor traction drive to profile from near the sea surface to the seafloor along a tensioned mooring cable with a subsurface float. The system's dock assembly near the seafloor includes an inductive battery-charging dock for the vehicle battery, an inductive communication system that provides communications during profiling, and a Wi-fi antenna that provides high-speed communications while in the charging dock. The dock electronics will connect to the RSN power and fiber-optic data network using ROV-mateable underwater connectors. (Illustration by Nick Michel-Hart, University of Washington)

AGU 2013 Poster Final

During the VISIONS'13 Expedition, three subnets were completed at this site (highlighted in blue). They include: 1) a medium-powered J-box MJ03B in the ASHES hydrothermal field, which is connected to two short-period seismometers; 2) an HD camera also in the ASHES hydrothermal field; and 3) a medium powered J-box MJ03E connected to two short-period seismometers. Over 20 km of extension cables, with lengths up to ~ 5 km, were successfully installed in 2013 using the ROV ROPOS. All extension cables and subnets were fully tested and are functional, awaiting to be connected to Primary Node PN3B. The remaining infrastructure will be deployed in during VISIONS'14, next year.

This platform at 200 m beneath the ocean's surface is on the RSN two-legged mooring. The 12-foot-across platform will host the instrumented Shallow Winched Profiler, as well as an instrument science module on the platform itself (including a digital still camera and ADCP). All data will be streamed in real-time through the seafloor cable and onto the Internet for ingestion and redistribution by the OOI Cyberinfrastructure. (Illustration by Patrick Waite, University of Washington)

This winched shallow profiler science pod with be hosted on the 200-m platform of the RSN two-legged high-bandwidth mooring. The science pod will include numerous chemical and biological sensors, including pH, CO2, and nitrate. The profiler will make several trips through the water column each day, transmitting all data in real-time to the Internet. The two-way communication provided by the Primary Cable will allow adjusments of profiles in response to events of interest and characterization of thin layers. (Illustration by Patrick Waite, University of Washington)

The summit of Axial Volcano will host myriad geophysical, chemical and biological instruments connected in real-time to the Internet via an array of junction boxes and extension cables. During the VISIONS'13 Expedition, three subnets were completed at this site (highlighted in blue). They include: 1) a medium-powered J-box MJ03B in the ASHES hydrothermal field, which is connected to two short-period seismometers; 2) an HD camera also in the ASHES hydrothermal field; and 3) a medium powered J-box MJ03E connected to two short-period seismometers. Over 20 km of extension cables, with lengths up to ~ 5 km, were successfully installed in 2013 using the ROV ROPOS. All extension cables and subnets were fully tested and are functional, awaiting to be connected to Primary Node PN3B. The remaining infrastructure will be deployed in during VISIONS'14, next year.

With more than 71% of the globe covered by ocean, Earth truly is the Water Planet.

As her student project, Marisa Gedney is developing an outreach-oriented web site filled with information on Axial Seamount.

Montgomery Taylor created a portion of a laboratory exercise as her student project.

J. Ryan Rembert's project is developing a web application to show the ROV dives and associated metadata.

This high resolution bathymetric map of the ASHES hydrothermal field shows the location of small, ~ 4 m tall, actively venting sulfide structures. The field is located near the steep western caldera wall. The field is likely fed by fluids circulating up along faults associated with this wall.

The HD video camera (with pan/tilt and LED lights) will be positioned near the Mushroom Vent at the Ashes Vent site in Axial volcano. The goal is to image the physical and biological activity on this vent.

This down-looking view of the Mushroom Hydrothermal Vent and adjacent Inferno chimney shows where the high definition video camera, fluid sampler (OSMO), and 3D temperature (thermistor) sensors will be placed. The HD camera and thermistor array will be cabled. In concert, these instruments will allow characterization of how fluid chemistry and temperature impact biological communities, and how these evolve over time in response to volcanic and seismic events.

A variety of geophysical sensors will be deployed at the base of Axial Seamount to monitor seismic events on the Juan de Fuca plate.

VISIONS'13 Main Image

Preparing to "capture" an underwater volcano in the northeast Pacific Ocean.

V'13 Expedition Main Image

Map of OOI study sites

OOI Map with RSN inset

OOI RSN cable system map

PN5A-Overview Image

PN3B-Overview Image

PN3A-Overview Image

PN1C and PN1D-Overview Image

PN1B-Overview Image

PN1A-Overview Image

Axial Caldera Image

Location of nodes, cables and instruments to be deployed during the VISIONS'13 expedition at, and near, the ASHES Hydrothermal Vent Field.

The cabled geophysical array at the Central Caldera Site is focused on measuring the inflation and deflation of the volcano, earthquakes, and the movement of of molten lava within the core of the volcano. Bathymetric data are from D. Clague and D. Caress, MBARI. Image Credit: University of Washington.

Axial Slope Base Image

Mid Plate image

Endurance Array and Slope Base Mooring Image

Hydrate Ridge Details image

V'13 Live Video Banner

VISIONS'13 Banner with Updates text

VISIONS13-nolivebutton banner

V13 Image No Schedule

VISIONS'13 Expedition Map

Locations and transits planned for the VISIONS'13 Expedition

V'13 Expedition Main Image w/o Live Video Button

Connecting onshore scientists, students, and the public via telepresence technologies allows for participation in at-sea research without having to physically be there.

Video Distribution VISIONS'12

The coastal oceans and associated ecosystems off of the Pacific Northwest are strongly impacted by wind-driven upwelling in the spring and summer of deep, nutrient-rich water. Satellite images highlight blooms of chlorophyll associated with these events that typically last 2-20 days.

A variety of sensors will be deployed on the RSN cabled network in 2013 to investigate the dynamic environment of methane seeps, gas hydrate formation, and associated biological communities. The instruments include seismometers to detect earthquake, fluid flow sensors, digitial still cameras, and a mass spectrometer for quanitfication of gas compositions.

Location of the 900 km high-power and bandwidth US Regional Scale Nodes cabled observatory in the Northeast Pacific. The backbone cables and seven primary nodes provide power and bandwidth to secondary infrastructure (instruments, junction boxes, medium power nodes, full water column moorings) at key scientific study sites along the Juan de Fuca plate and in the overlying ocean. A shore station located at Pacific City, Oregon brings the power and communications onshore where data are passed off to the terrestrial fiber. Real-time capabilities of the RSN through the Internet will provide unprecedented data flow and two-way communications to many hundreds of sensors. OOI infrastructure also includes a series of uncabled moorings as part of the Coastal Scale nodes, with data transmission through satellite communications.

$Down looking mosaic of the ~ 4 m tall black smoker chimneys 'Inferno' and 'Mushroom' in the ASHES vent field. A network of fractures with variable intensity of diffuse flow host white bacterial mats and tube worms. Also shown is a corresponding vertical mosaic of Inferno hosting dense colonies of tube worms and limpets. PLEASE NOTE: This image is not available for usage.$

Down looking mosaic of the ~ 4 m tall black smoker chimneys 'Inferno' and 'Mushroom' in the ASHES vent field. A network of fractures with variable intensity of diffuse flow host white bacterial mats and tube worms. Also shown is a corresponding vertical mosaic of Inferno hosting dense colonies of tube worms and limpets. PLEASE NOTE: This image is not available for usage.

RSN is developing state-of-the-art high power (3 kW) and bandwidth (1 Gbs) full water column moorings that will include a broad suite of sensors, an instrumented deep profiler, a 200 m platform and an instrumented winched shallow profiler.

Research Primary Image

About Primary Image

This drawing shows the Segment 1 and 2 cable routes in their temporary and final configurations. The cable routes shown in red (temporary) were installed during the summer of 2011. This year, we are recovering the “red” cable ends and relaying the cables along their final routes (shown in black). The primary node 1A (PN1A) will be installed at the base of the continental slope, near the subduction zone and to the west of Hydrate Ridge. Drawing courtesy of L-3 MariPro

Plan for OOI RSN Primary Node Installation. Node drawings courtesy of L-3 MariPro.

VISIONS'12 Expedition routes for legs 1 & 2.

Northeast Pacific Time-series Underwater Networked Experiments

Image of infrastructure at the summit of Axial Seamount

Image of mooring infrastructure at Axial Seamount Primary Node 3A

Components of the primary nodes include the backbone interface assembly (red frame) and the science interface assembly (yellow).

Components of the core seafloor sensor packages associated with the OOI cabled observatory moorings

Components of the OOI cabled observatory deep water profilers

Components of the 200m platforms on the OOI cabled observatory moorings

Components of the OOI cabled observatory shallow water profilers

Deep water and shallow water profiling components of the OOI cabled observatory moorings

Secondary nodes will connect to the primary nodes and transfer power and bandwidth to sensor networks. They are scheduled for deployment in 2013 using an ROV. --Graphic credit: OOI RSN and Center for Environmental Visualization, University of Washington

The footprint of the OOI cabled observatory

OOI primary nodes

Extension cables will connect the primary nodes to secondary nodes and then to myriad instruments and sensors. Over 22,000 m of extension cables were deployed with the remotely operated vehicle ROPOS during the VISIONS'13 expedition, July - August, 2013.

Highly capable moorings such as those shown here use power and bandwidth from the cable to investigate water motion and a spectrum of other properties from the sea surface to the seafloor.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) just west of Washington and Oregon is of particular interest to experts assessing tsunami danger to the US and Canada. The CSZ stretches from Northern CA's Cape Mendocino to souther Bristish Columbia.

The OOI cabled observatory will instrument Axial Seamount, the most magmatically robust volcano along the Juan de Fuca Ridge. It hosts active hydrothermal vent fields and abundant sites of diffust flow. The cabled observatory will be installed at the summit of the seamount to monitor the major volcanic and tectonic events that create the oceanic crust and that modulate heat, chemical, and biological fluxes through the seafloor.

Hydrate Ridge is an important observatory site to define the temporal evolution of methane hydrate systems in response to seismic events, to determine material fluxes from the seafloor and impacts on overlying ocean chemistry, and to understand biogeochemical coupling associated with gas hydrate formation and disassociation.

Lithosphere to hydrosphere processes at Endeavour.

Model of a Secondary Node. Drawn by Mike Welch, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington

Modifications to the RSN cabled observatory suggested at the RSN-Axial Workshop in Seattle, WA October 5-7, 2011.

OOI RSN cable installation was completed on 5 September 2011.

This bathymetric map of ASHES Hydrothermal Field shows the location of many of the black smoker chimneys that dot this site. The chimney Inferno rises 4 m (~ 12 feet) above the surrounding seafloor and is ~ 11 meters from its neighbor called Mushroom. Colleagues from NOAA-PMEL have worked at this site for two decades, monitoring changes in the chimneys and fluid chemistry.

Axial Volcano hosts numerous hydrothermal fields and sites of diffuse flow that support dense animal and microbial communities.

Theme IV banner

The OOI Regional Scale Nodes cabled observatory is currently under construction. Nodes with arrays of instruments will be placed at Axial Seamount and Hydrate Ridge. Future node sites are also indicated.

The dive route for the Slocum Glider at Axial Seamount.

OOI-RSN banner

Video Distribution for VISIONS'11 Cruise

Science Main Image

The OOI cable for the regional component is being laid in segments, as shown on this graphic.

The Coastal, Regional, and Global components of the OOI.

Axial Seamount

HDD Cross-section

Tucker trawl trajectory on the 2018-07-21 tow. The background is an "echogram" assembled by compiling the amplitude of echo returns from the ship ADCP. The rain drop-like features on the echogram are interference from other acoustic instruments operating at the same time. The white net trajectory here was obtained by a time-depth recorder that was attached to the net. Credit: W. Lee, University of Washington, V18.