|
|
Daily Update: Biological and chemical sampling at chimney site The Indian Ocean’s 80°F surface waters christened our new elevator and over 50 pounds of bottles, coolers and sampling equipment last night on their inaugural journey to the black smoker chimneys. Video footage showed that the 14-foot high elevator, equipped with large yellow floats to keep it upright, was in good shape after the two and a half mile plunge. A sound device called a transponder helped us to locate it with ROV Jason during a 45-minute search this morning. Like an elevator used in office buildings, ours will constantly shuttle equipment and samples from the seafloor to the ship. With Jason now functional and the sampling equipment on the bottom, we will use the elevator to bring animal specimens, hydrothermal fluids and chimney samples to Knorr for analyses. Work began early this morning soon after Jason arrived at the seafloor. First the scientists deployed a crab trap baited with smelly fish and “the crabs seemed very interested,” said biologist Shana Goffredi. When
it came time to load water samples onto the elevator, DSOG tech
and Jason pilot Mark Bokenfohr had the difficult task of maneuvering
Jason’s giant metal claw to open one of the elevator’s
green bins. Today on the biologists’ “seafloor shopping list” were mussels and anemones. One of the elevator’s large white bins is nearly filled with sea creatures. Knorr’s decks will be a busy place for humans and animals when the specimens appear in the morning.
Dive and Discover “Sea Quiz #1”
1. What is the name of the mid-ocean ridge where Jason is diving: a) the Mid-Atlantic Ridge b) the East Pacific Rise c) the Central Indian Ridge d) the Southeast Indian Ridge 2. ROV stands for: a) Remotely Opening Van b) Remotely Operated Vehicle c) Real Occupied Voice d) Reverse Outer Vehicle 3. The animals that ROV Jason is seeing at the hydrothermal vents include: a) mussels, anemones, crabs, barnacles b) tubeworms, octopus, jellyfish c) giant squid, sperm whales, dolphins d) cats, dogs, squirrels 4. The scientists are using what device to bring their samples back to Knorr from the seafloor: a) an escalator b) a transponder c) an elevator d) a teletransporter 5. Hydrothermal plumes can be found and mapped using what type of equipment: a) an echosounder b) a CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) c) satellite navigation d) a transponder [Click here to see the answers].
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mailing List | Feedback | Glossary | For Teachers | About Us | Contact
© 2010 Dive and Discover™. Dive and Discover™ is a registered trademark of
Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution