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Day
12 -- 22 October 2007 -- Some
Ongoing FeMO Research Projects
Carbon fixation
experiments with C13 and C14 are carried out to figure out how much of the
inorganic carbon is converted into organic molecules by Lo'ihi microbes.
Other experiments address questions about nitrogen metabolism in the deep sea,
using microbe incubations spiked with N15, a stable isotope of nitrogen.
Finally, culturing and genetic DNA analyses are carried out to decipher the
structure of the community building the microbial mats. Daily report
... |
Day
11 -- 21 October 2007 -- On the Remotely Operated Vehicle JASON II
Jason is a type of submersible called a Remotely Operated Vehicle or ROV. It's not a true submarine because it is not manned, and it is not a true robot because it is attached to the ship via a
tether. Jason's longest dives have been more than 4 days or 96 hours
long. Daily report
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Day
10 -- 20 October 2007 -- Moon
Mats and Tripods
After sampling at Ula Nui, Jason is directed to explore to the east.
A huge mat is discovered with mounds 2 or 3 meters tall and pock marked with small craters. It reminds somebody of the surface of the moon and it is named the "Moon
Mat".
Daily report
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Day
09 -- 19 October 2007 -- A
Lonely Anglerfish
Shortly after Jason reaches the bottom a round gray fish is found sitting on the seafloor. It looks similar to a puffer fish in shape but has an enormous mouth with thick fish lips and a head so round that the eyes face forward. It
seems Angelina Jolie's look-a-like. Daily report
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Day
08 -- 18 October 2007 -- The
Geology of Loihi
Lo'ihi is a hotspot volcano like all the volcanoes of the Hawaiian chain.
It is located about 35 km (20 miles) south of the big island and it probably started erupting through the ocean crust about 400,000 years ago. Eventually the movement of the Pacific plate will carry Mauna Loa away from the Hawaiian hotspot and its source of lava. Lo'ihi will then likely become the most vigorous volcano of the Hawaiian chain growing to rival Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in size. Daily report
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Day
07 -- 17 October 2007 -- Scientists
Swap
This morning we leave station to sail to Kona on the southwest side of the big island to exchange scientists. Two enormous cruise ships are laying offshore Kona. Alexis, Brad, Don and In Chieh go ashore in two trips and are replaced by Amanda, Dave, Katrina, Lisa and Roman. Once everyone is aboard, the Kilo Moana turns toward South Point for our return to
Lo'ihi. Daily report
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Day
06 -- 16 October 2007 -- Pit
of Death!
Craig Moyer tells me about diving into the Pit of Depth in the 3 man submersible Pisces 5. As Pisces descended into the pit the scientists looked out the thick acrylic windows of Pisces to see a layer of white microbial mat floating a meter or two above the bottom of the pit.
The water, like all hot-spring water, contained no dissolved oxygen so fish wandering into it
suffocated. Daily report
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Day
05 -- 15 October 2007 -- It is All About Iron
Loving Microbes
FeMO researchers do
care a lot about microbes
that are chemoautotrophs or chemosynthesizers, that is, these microbes
make their own food using chemical energy, iron in this case.
Daily report
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Day
04 -- 14 October 2007 -- Diving
into Pele's Pit
Jason's dive began
about 4 am in Pele's Pit. Pele is the Hawaiian volcano goddess and the
images captured by Jason's cameras show the orange colored rocks and
shimmering hot water that reveal the volcanic nature of Loihi. The pit
is the summit caldera of Loihi.
Daily report
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Day
03 -- 13 October 2007 -- Jason, Medea and the Golden Fleece
Jason
and Medea had been put in the water shortly after midnight. Medea is a
second smaller robot that hangs on the cable between Jason and the
ship. In mythology Medea is Jasons's wife and though her magic helps
Jason get the Golden Fleece. Medea's purpose for robot Jason is to
isolate Jason from the heave of the ship. She also has a camera and
thrusters so that she can move if the cable gets too close to Jason or
his work area. Daily report
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Day
02 -- 12 October 2007 -- Probing
Ula Nui with the CTD
After mapping out
Loihi seamount using the multibeam sonar system, we stop
over a site on the lower southern edge of Loihi. This site is called
Ula Nui and is about 5 km deep. Transponders are placed for later
navigational use by the Jason ROV and preparations are well on their
way for the first CTD cast. Daily report
... |
Day
01 -- 11 October 2007 -- Finding
FeMO
We get under way
about noon and head out through the channel leaving Honolulu harbor.
The captain announces that a small pod of dolphins has joined us and
are playing on the bow. We head southeast from Honolulu and watch
Molokai, Lanai and Maui pass off our port side. We are on our way to
find FeMO on Loihi Seamount. Daily
report ... |
Day
00 -- 9 and 10 October 2007 -- Getting
Ready in Honolulu
Scientists,
technicians and students arrive in Honolulu and begin loading
supplies, equipment and personal effects onto the Kilo Moana. Their
goal: researching the biological mats and hydrothermal vents of
Loihi Seamount, an underwater volcano regarded as the leading edge
of the Hawaiian hotspot. Daily
report ... |
