We will tow the DSL-120 sonar sled 70-100 m above the seafloor along the Galapagos Spreading Center to make echo-sounding maps of geologic features (cracks, volcanic cones and craters, lava flows, etc.) that are as small as an average single-story house. Sensors mounted on, above, and below the sonar sled will be used to "sniff" for chemical, thermal, and optical signals of hydrothermal plumes from seafloor hot springs. Image courtesy of WHOI.
Related Links
GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot
GalAPAGoS: Where Ridge Meets Hotspot: Mission Plan