People

We will be using three main instruments:

DSL 120

The DSL 120 side-scan sonar system is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is towed close to the seafloor and which is used to make images and collect bathymetry data so that we can map areas we will want to dive on with the second instrument we will be using, the JasonII/Medea system.

Jason II / Medea

The JasonII / Medea system is a deep-towed robotic vehicle, an ROV, with which we will be able to observe the seafloor directly and perform experiments and recover samples. The ROV has mechanical arms (manipulators) that we will be using to do a variety of sampling procedures. The ROV has excellent video and still camera equipment to let us observe the mud volcanoes. The JasonII/Medea system has recently been completely redesigned and upgraded and can now reach maximum depths of 6500 m (about 4 miles).

Also on this site:

Sediment Corer

We will also be coring the seamounts to recover the muds and the rocks that the muds contain. Coring is done using a metal pipe lined with a PVC pipe (to recover the sediment) that has a large weight on the top of the pipe. The core is lowered over the side of the ship on a cable and permitted to penetrate the mud on the seafloor. When it is pulled out and brought back to the ship we remove the inner PVC liner and cut it open to recover the sample.

Also on this site:

Ship
Instruments
Location
Funding