Mission Plan
Mission Plan

Education
Education

Mariana Arc
Mariana Arc

Biology
Biology

Vent Chemistry
Vent Chemistry

Volcanism
Volcanism

ROV
ROV

Seafloor Mapping
Seafloor Mapping

Explorers
Explorers

Plumes
2002 Plumes

Photo & Video Log

This page contains photos and videos taken during the Submarine Ring of Fire 2004: Exploration of the Mariana Arc expedition that took place March 27 - April 18, 2004. Click on any image to view a larger version and for additional information. If a movie camera icon camera icon is present, a video can be viewed by clicking on the image. Other video formats are available on the linked pages. If a Podcast icon slideshow icon is present, a video or audio file is available for download or you can subscribe to the RSS Podcast Feed. NOAA Podcast RSS 2.0 Feed

If a slideshow icon slideshow icon is present, a visual log of exploration images can be viewed. You can scroll through them one by one, or select the play button for an automatic slideshow.

(HR) = "High Resolution" images available.

 

camera icon Video & Slideshows

See the satellite and sonar survey animation of the Volcanic Chain

camera icon Summary
View multibeam bathymetry collected on the 2003 and 2004 Submarine Ring of Fire expeditions. (mp4, 7.9 MB)

See the satellite and sonar survey animation of the Volcanic Chain

camera icon See the satellite and sonar survey animation of the Mariana Arc Volcanic Chain (mp4, 3 MB)

Take a trip to the seafloor of the Mariana Arc!

camera icon Take a trip to the sea floor of the Mariana Arc! (mp4, 10.3 MB)

Fly-over the NW Uracas volcano to the Ahyi submarine volcano

camera icon Fly over the NW Uracas and Ahyi submarine volcanoes (mp4, 8.9 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit the Mariana Arc virtual fly-throughs and panoramas of eight individual sites.

camera icon Visit the Mariana Arc virtual fly-throughs and panoramas of eight individual sites.

See the orange bacterial mats of northwest Eifuku volcano.

camera icon April 12
See the orange bacterial mats of NW Eifuku volcano. (mp4, 5.3 MB)

Around some of the seafloor hot springs at NW Eifuku volcano.

camera icon April 12
Around some of the sea-floor hot springs at NW Eifuku volcano. (mp4, 4.9 MB)

See an extraordinary biological community of hydrothermal mussels at NW Eifuku volcano.

pod cast camera icon April 11
See an extraordinary biological community of hydrothermal mussels at NW Eifuku volcano. (mp4, 4.9 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hydrothermal mussels at northwest Eifuku volcano Cliffhouse vent.

camera icon April 11
The hydrothermal mussels at NW Eifuku volcano Cliffhouse vent. (mp4, 6.1 MB)

The droplets of the “Champagne” hydrothermal system.

pod cast camera icon April 10
The droplets of the “Champagne” hydrothermal system. (mp4, 4.4 MB)

Surprisingly, droplets composed of some sort of fluid were rising out of the sediment around the chimneys.

pod cast camera icon April 10
Surprisingly, droplets composed of some sort of fluid were rising out of the sediment around the chimneys. (mp4, 5.1 MB)

See how the ROPOS ROV is deployed at the Maug island volcanic crater.

camera icon April 9
See how the ROPOS ROV is deployed at the Maug Island volcanic crater. (mp4, 4.4 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The central cone at East Diamante volcano found a remarkable zone where chemosynthesis and photosynthesis overlap.

camera icon April 8
The central cone at East Diamante volcano. (mp4, 3.9 MB)

The "Aquarium" site at East Diamante volcano.

camera icon April 8
The "Aquarium" site at East Diamante volcano. (mp4, 5.2 MB)

"Five Towers" hydrothermal vent Video

camera icon April 6
View the “5 Towers” hydrothermal vent. (mp4, 4.8 MB)

See chimneys made of sulfide minerals at the Black Forest.

camera icon April 6
See chimneys made of sulfide minerals at the Black Forest. (mp4, 5.1 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A close encounter with an angel fish as it swims by a black smoker.

camera icon April 5
A close encounter with an angel fish as it swims by a black smoker. (mp4, 1.4 MB)

Sea life around the hydrothermal vents at the East Diamante volcano.

camera icon April 5
Sea life around the hydrothermal vents at the East Diamante volcano. (mp4, 5.2 MB)

Two species of shrimp at the hydrothermal vents at NW Rota 1 volcano.

camera icon April 2
Two species of shrimp at the hydrothermal vents at NW Rota 1 volcano. (mp4, 5.2 MB)

Collecting an unusual species of shrimp found at the hydrothermal vent.

camera icon April 2
Collecting an unusual species of shrimp found at the hydrothermal vent. (mp4, 4 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video of amazing scene of billowing smoke rising from a small crater.

pod cast camera icon April 1
Amazing scene of billowing smoke rising from a small crater. (mp4, 5.4 MB)

The incredible vista of Brimstone Pit.

pod cast camera icon April 1
The incredible vista of Brimstone Pit. (mp4, 5.6 MB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images

Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 expedition science team and crew.

Summary
Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 expedition science team and crew. (HR)

An overall image of the Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 expedition.

Summary
An overall image of the Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 expedition. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flatfish (sole) were found in great numbers at Kasuga-1 and Daikoku volcanoes.

April 15
Flatfish (sole) were found in great numbers at Kasuga-1 and Daikoku volcanoes. (HR)

A close-up of the tubeworm Lamelli brachia

April 15
A close-up of the tubeworm Lamelli brachia. (HR)

Scientist were surprised by a rare sighting of a shark at the Kasuga-2 Hydrothermal system.

April 15
Scientists were surprised by a rare sighting of a shark at the Kasuga-2 hydrothermal system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some common zooplankton collected near

April 14
Some common zooplankton collected near East Diamante volcano. (HR)

plankton nets are mounted on the bumper bar of ROPOS, and are used to collect plankton above the hydrothermal vent sites

April 14
Plankton nets mounted on the bumper bar of the ROPOS ROV are used to collect plankton above the hydrothermal vent sites.

Conical limpets (2cm, 0.75 in) cover the rocks surfaces at East Diamante.

April 14
Conical limpets (2cm, 0.75 in) cover the rock surfaces at East Diamante. (HR)

plankton net is being deployed to collect near-surface plankton in Maug caldera

April 14
A plankton net is deployed to collect near-surface plankton in Maug caldera. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A perspective view of the several eruption cones inside the East Diamante caldera

April 13
A perspective view of several eruption cones inside the East Diamante caldera. (HR)

Geoff Lebon (foreground) and Ed Baker (background) are removing plume water from the CTD bottles after a tow-yo.

April 13
Geoff Lebon (foreground) and Ed Baker (background) removie plume water from the CTD bottles after a tow-yo. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thick covering of yellow and orange microbial mats as seen at the Yellow Top diffuse flow venting site.

April 12
The fluffy yellow and orange microbial mats seen at the Yellow Top venting site. (HR)

These microbial mats are similar in composition to those as seen at the Yellow Top Vent site.

April 12
These microbial mats are similar in composition to those seen at the Yellow Top Vent site. (HR)

Yellow and orange microbial mats forming “bioreactor” mound with a thin crust and small chimneys on top.

April 12
Yellow and orange microbial mats form a “bioreactor” mound with a thin crust and small chimneys on top. (HR)

White smokers at the Champagne Vent Site.

April 12
White smokers at the Champagne Vent Site. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large amounts of biomass feeding on white flocculent mats

April 12
Large amounts of biomass feed on white flocculent mats. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In places at NW Eifuku, mussels are so dense they obscure the bottom.

April 11
In places at NW Eifuku, mussels are so dense they obscure the bottom. (HR)

The vent mussel Bathymodiolus.

April 11
The vent mussel Bathymodiolus. (HR)

Galatheid crabs and shrimp graze on bacterial filaments.

April 11
Galatheid crabs and shrimp graze on bacterial filaments. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White chimneys at Champagne vent site, NW Eifuku volcano.

April 10
White chimneys at Champagne vent site, NW Eifuku volcano. (HR)

Close-up of droplets at the Champagne vent site.

April 10
Close-up of droplets at the Champagne Vent site. (HR)

ROPOS capturing droplets from the seafloor at Champagne vent site.

April 10
ROPOS capturing droplets from the sea floor at Champagne Vent. (HR)

An experiment to observe the change in phase of the droplets collected at Champagne vent site.

April 10
An experiment to observe the change in phase of the droplets collected at Champagne Vent. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-dimensional view of the Maug caldera (2 times vertical exaggeration).

April 9
Three-dimensional view of the Maug caldera (2 times vertical exaggeration). (HR)

The vertical column in the center of the image, called a dike, rises from below sea level to the pinnacle at the top of the ridge.

April 9
The vertical column in the center of the image, called a dike, rises from below sea level to the pinnacle at the top of the ridge. (HR)

The R/V Thomas G. Thompson holding station over Maug caldera.

April 9
The R/V Thomas G. Thompson holds its station over Maug caldera.

ROPOS deployment from the “fantail” of the Thompson.

April 9
ROPOS is deployed from the “fantail” of the Thompson. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sampling hydrothermal vent fluids at Cave vent, using the Hot Fluid Sampler (HFS).

April 9
Sampling hydrothermal vent fluids with the Hot Fluid Sampler (HFS) at Cave Vent. (HR)

The top of one of the central domes in Maug caldera

April 9
The top of one of the central domes in Maug caldera. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft corals (~10-15 cm tall) and tropical fish share the paradise we named “Aquarium”.

April 8
Soft corals (~10-15 cm tall) and tropical fish share the paradise we named “Aquarium." (HR)

Team is gathered around the ROPOS console, identifying vent species on the seafloor.

April 8
The team gathers around the ROPOS ROV console to identify vent species on the sea floor. (HR)

Tropical fish swim above boulders covered with bacterial mat, which indicates the presence of hydrothermal venting.

April 8
Tropical fish swim above boulders covered with bacterial mats, which indicate the presence of hydrothermal venting. (HR)

Patches of encrusting red and green algae lie beneath filamentous bacterial mats on rock surfaces.

April 8
Patches of encrusting red and green algae lie beneath filamentous bacterial mats on rock surfaces. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The steep slope of the East Diamante volcano is seen in this image from the upper left to the lower right-hand side.

April 6
The steep slope of the East Diamante volcano is seen in this image from the upper left to the lower right-hand side. (HR)

A piece of one of the chimney spires, cut in half and lined by a copper-rich mineral, called chalcopyrite.

April 6
A piece of one of the chimney spires, cut in half and lined by a copper-rich mineral called chalcopyrite. (HR)

Three small (~30 cm tall) actively venting spires sitting on top of one of the chimneys in the Black Forest vent field.

April 6
Three small (~30 cm tall) actively venting spires sit atop one of the chimneys in the Black Forest vent field. (HR)

This is a small, ice cream cone-shaped chimney located near the base of Five Towers.

April 6
This small, ice- cream-cone-shaped chimney is located near the base of Five Towers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summit of Diamante volcano, created from an EM300 grid.

April 5
The summit of Diamante volcano, created from an EM300 grid. (HR)

Close-up of a vent barnacle that we’re currently trying to identify.

April 5
Close-up of a vent barnacle that we’re trying to identify. (HR)

Active “smoker” chimneys precipitating iron, copper and zinc sulfides from 230ºC fluid.

April 5
Active “smoker” chimneys precipitating iron, copper and zinc sulfides from 230ºC fluid. (HR)

A unique photograph of a shallow-water tropical fish swimming among active black smoker chimneys.

April 5
A unique photograph of a shallow-water tropical fish swimming among active black smoker chimneys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemosynthetic microbial mats cover red algae and coral (which are photosynthetic).

April 5
Chemosynthetic microbial mats cover red algae and coral, which are photosynthetic. (HR)

A pinnacle rises to 167 meters below the surface.

April 5
A pinnacle rises to 167 meters below the surface. (HR)

Stunning image of Aquarium site.

April 5
Stunning image of the Aquarium site. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interlayered basaltic (dark) and felsic (light) ash layers in the east wall of West Rota caldera.

April 4
Interlayered basaltic (dark) and felsic (light) ash layers in the east wall of West Rota caldera. (HR)

A comparision of Crater Lake and West Rota calderas.

April 4
A comparision of Crater Lake and West Rota calderas. (HR)

A contact between the lower basaltic and upper felsic ash units in the wall of the West Rota caldera.

April 4
A contact point between the lower basaltic and upper felsic ash units in the wall of the West Rota caldera. (HR)

Columnar jointing in pumice boulder on the top of West Rota volcano.

April 4
Columnar jointing in a pumice boulder on the top of West Rota volcano. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small crabs and shrimp are actively roaming the venting area.

April 2
Small crabs and shrimp actively roam the venting area.

Limpets were seen grazing near the seeping fluids.

April 2
Limpets were seen grazing near the seeping fluids. (HR)

Purple anemone on a pumice rock along the east crater wall, West Rota volcano.

April 2
Purple anemone on a pumice rock along the east crater wall of West Rota volcano. (HR)

Stalked crinoid on the caldera seafloor at West Rota volcano.

April 2
Stalked crinoid on the caldera sea floor at West Rota volcano. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulfur and ash totally obscuring the outcrop from our view

April 1
Sulfur and ash totally obscure the outcrop from our view.

Covered in sulfur droplets, the ROPOS shows signs of its close encounter with sulfur, rocks and ash.

April 1
Covered in sulfur droplets, the ROPOS ROV shows signs of its close encounter with sulfur, rocks and ash. (HR)

Sulfur balls littering the seafloor near Brimstone Pit.

April 1
Sulfur balls litter the sea floor near Brimstone Pit. (HR)

A cross-section of NW Rota 1 measured by an optical turbidity sensor mounted on a CTD package.

April 1
A cross-section of NW Rota 1 measured by an optical turbidity sensor mounted on a CTD package.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant smoky plume discovered near the summit of NW Rota 1 volcano.

March 30
Giant smoky plume discovered near the summit of NW Rota 1 volcano. (HR)

NW Rota 1 EM300 bathymetry

March 30
NW Rota 1 EM300 bathymetry.

A hydrothermal vent site near the summit of the NW Rota volcano

March 30
A hydrothermal vent site near the summit of NW Rota 1 volcano.

Unusual spiny crab

March 30
Unusual spiny crab. (HR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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