Map view of submarine Volcano-W. The Pisces V dive area indicated on the SE caldera. The contour interval is 100 meters. The resolution of the bathymetry data is 25 meters. Click image for larger view
The suction sampler on Pisces V (upper left) vacuums up some orange microbial mat while a probe records the temperature (lower left) at Volcano W. Click image for larger view.
Dives on Volcano W
and
Rumble V
April 22, 2005
Bob Embley
Co-Chief Scientist for the New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition
(Legs 1 and 2)
Geophysicist
NOAA Vents Program, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory – Newport,
Oregon
Gary Massoth
Co-Chief Scientist for the New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition
(Leg 1)
Principle Scientist
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Volcano W
After the final dive at Giggenbach Volcano we made one dive
on Volcano “W”.
This volcano was discovered last October by the New Zealand research
vessel Tangaroa during the “ NZAPLUME III (New Zealand American PLUme Mapping Expedition) 
” cruise. A CTD
cast made from the Tangaroa revealed a hydrothermal plume in its southeastern
caldera. On Dive PV-621 Ian Wright searched for the origin of a hydrothermal
plume and conducted geologic mapping of the volcano. The dive traversed
more than 3 kilometers (~1.5 miles) of seafloor and discovered low-level
venting in several places. The biology samples included an unusual tube worm
that may be new to science. Although Volcano “W” was an intriguing
place, it did not have the intense hydrothermal emissions present on
many of the other unexplored volcanos.
Tubeworms grow at the base of a rock outcrop that is covered with bivalves at Volcano W. Click image for larger view.
Toothpaste-like lava at Volcano W oozed from this tube before it solidified in place. Click image for larger view.
An angler fish lies in wait on young lava flows from Volcano W. This species was previously unknown to inhabit in New Zealand waters. Click image for larger view.
An anemone on relatively young lava flows at Volcano W. Click image for larger view.
Rumble V Preview
PISCES V made its final dive of Leg I on Rumble V volcano with biologist Malcolm Clark. The submersible landed on a seafloor of young basalt flows festooned with a wide variety of strange “oval” sea urchins and large branching coral. The sub came upon an extensive field of large mussels that continued upslope. After taking some samples the PISCES V had to return to the surface after only three hours on the bottom, due to rising wind and seas. However, we will be returning to Rumble V on Leg II in search of the source of the intense plume rising off its summit. The unique biology observed during Dive 622 has only whetted our appetite for further exploration of Rumble V.
Deepsea urchins (reminiscent of cacti) grow on the lavas at Rumble V volcano. This is the first time that this species has been observed alive on the seafloor. Click image for larger view.
Mussels dominate the hydrothermal biological community at Rumble V volcano, just as at all the other volcanoes we have explored during this expedition. However, the Rumble V mussels are much larger (over a foot long) than found at the other sites. Click image for larger view.
A fish called an armourhead stargazer rests on the seafloor at Rumble V volcano. This sighting, at 770 m, was surprisingly deep for this species. Click image for larger view.
A deepsea shark called a prickly dogfish swims by Pisces V at Rumble V volcano. Click image for larger view.
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