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Watching and waiting
All through the evening of Feb. 15, scientists aboard R/V Knorr tracked ANGUS in the depths below. One person made sure ANGUS stayed at the right height above the seafloor, signaling the winch operator to pull in or let out cable as the seafloor terrain got higher or lower. Another person made sure R/V Knorr didn’t drift far from the target, signaling the bridge to adjust as necessary. A third person watched the temperature readings of bottom water that ANGUS was passing through—hoping to see a spike that might mean the discovery of a hydrothermal vent. It was tiring and somewhat boring work.
But then, at just about midnight, ANGUS sent out a signal. It had registered a spike in water temperature. The signal lasted three minutes, then water temperatures returned to a near-freezing 2°C (35.6°F). The scientists carefully noted the time and ANGUS’s position when the spike (called a “temperature anomaly” by scientists) occurred. ANGUS continued its mission through the night.
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