Galápagos Rift Expedition 2011

Galápagos Rift Expedition 2011 Expedition

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Galápagos Rift Expedition 2011 expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

A deep-sea skate glides by as the science team searches for evidence of hydrothermal venting.

A deep-sea skate glides by as the science team searches for evidence of hydrothermal venting.

The ROV traverses the height of a 10+ meter tall extinct sulfide chimney.

Extinct Sulfide Chimney

The ROV traverses the height of a 10+ meter tall extinct sulfide chimney.

This video shows microbial mats and plumes of vent gases and 'flock' (floating white blobs of bacteria) at a diffuse venting site

Microbial mats and plumes of vent gases and 'flock' (floating white blobs of bacteria) at a diffuse venting site.

Riftia tubeworms colonize diffuse vent habitats between broken pieces of lava.

Riftia tubeworms colonize diffuse vent habitats between broken pieces of lava.

A bright pink Holothurian sea cucumber rests beneath large 'pillows' of cooled lava

A bright pink Holothurian sea cucumber rests beneath large 'pillows' of cooled lava.

These unique Polychaete worms, with long squid-like tentacles used for breathing, were seen undulating through the water column

These unique Polychaete worms, with long squid-like tentacles used for breathing, were seen undulating through the water column.

This octopus and several like it were observed for lengthy periods between ship moves, on numerous ROV dives.

This octopus and several like it were observed for lengthy periods between ship moves, on numerous ROV dives.

This inquisitive sea turtle descended with and bumped the ROV several times.

This inquisitive sea turtle descended with and bumped the ROV several times.

View video of a hammerhead shark lurking around Seirios for a few moments during our first dive.

Hammerhead Shark

View video of a hammerhead shark lurking around Seirios for a few moments during our first dive.

View video of a toadfish.

View video of a toadfish captured during our ROV dive.

Video footage of the Seirios Camera Sled being launched from the ship.

View video footage of the Seirios Camera Sled being launched from the ship.

View a slideshow of some of the best images from ROV dives during the Galapagos Rift Expedition, July 2011.

Expedition Highlights Slideshow

View a slideshow of some of the best images from ROV dives during the Galapagos Rift Expedition, July 2011.

View a slideshow of highlights from the two ROV dives on the Tempus Fugit Vent Field.

July 24 Highlights Slideshow

View a slideshow of highlights from the two ROV dives on the Tempus Fugit Vent Field.

A highlights slideshow of the unique fauna found at the Paramount Seamounts

Paramount Seamounts Slideshow

A highlights slideshow of the unique fauna found at the Paramount Seamounts.

View a slideshow of various images taken between July 9th and 14th depicting onboard preparations for the ROV leg.

Onboard Preparations Slideshow

Various images taken between July 9th and 14th depicting onboard preparations for the ROV leg.

View a slideshow of the various Seirios Camera Sled components.

Seirios Camera Sled Slideshow

View a slideshow of the various Seirios Camera Sled components.

Hydrothermal plume surveys, bathymetric coverage (partial), CTD Tow Yo data, and ROV dive locations discovering hydrothermal vents during the GALREX 2011 Expedition.

Hydrothermal plume surveys, bathymetric coverage (partial), CTD Tow Yo data, and ROV dive locations from GALREX 2011.

Images of the Paramount Seamount biological communities and geological setting obtained during an ROV dive.

Paramount Seamount

Images of the Paramount Seamount biological communities and geological setting obtained during an ROV dive.

Riftia tubeworms colonize diffuse vent habitats between broken pieces of lava.

Riftia tubeworms colonize diffuse vent habitats between broken pieces of lava.

Extensive beds of the giant clam Calyptogena magnifica were in abundance at Tempus Fugit.

Extensive beds of the giant clam Calyptogena magnifica were in abundance at Tempus Fugit.

This beautiful creature referred to as “dandelion” was discovered by geologists during a 1977 expedition.

“Dandelion”

This beautiful creature referred to as “dandelion” was discovered by geologists during a 1977 expedition.

An open lava tube. This collapsed feature often occurs when the outer edges of a flow are quickly cooled by contact with seawater. The insulated lava inside remains viscous and eventually recedes, creating a void.

An open lava tube. This collapsed feature occurs when the outer edges of a flow are quickly cooled by contact with seawater.

A deep-sea skate glides through a cloud of diffused 'smoke'.

A deep-sea skate glides through a cloud of diffused 'smoke'.

Shrimp and crabs colonizing a rock outcrop at a diffuse venting site.

Shrimp and Crabs

Shrimp and crabs colonizing a rock outcrop at a diffuse venting site.

Silhouette of Little Hercules as it approaches extinct hydrothermal sulfide spire along the Galápagos Rift.

Little Hercules

Silhouette of Little Hercules as it approaches extinct hydrothermal sulfide spire along the Galápagos Rift.

Inactive sulfide chimneys along the pinnacle of one tall extinct sulfide spire.

Inactive sulfide chimneys along the pinnacle of one tall extinct sulfide spire.

The tubeworms along the Juan de Fuca Ridge are a smaller relative of the ones found on the Galápagos Rift.

The tubeworms along the Juan de Fuca Ridge are a smaller relative of the ones found on the Galápagos Rift.

Overview in Google Earth (top right) of the area where the Paramount Seamounts are located. Underneath is an oblique view of Smith & Sandwell (SnS) data of the Paramount Seamount chain. An arrow points to the seamount of interest.

Paramount Seamounts

Overview in Google Earth of the area where the Paramount Seamounts are located.

EM302 data of the tallest seamount in the Paramount Seamount chain.

Tallest Seamount

EM302 data of the tallest seamount in the Paramount Seamount chain.

EM302 backscatter of the seamount showing ROV dive track (in black) which traveled from right to left up the seamount.

EM302 backscatter of the seamount showing ROV dive track (in black) which traveled from right to left up the seamount.

EM302 bathymetry data of the seamount where red represents the shallowest depths and green the deepest.

Bathymetry Data

EM302 bathymetry data of the seamount where red represents the shallowest depths and green the deepest.

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

Ground Truthing 1

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

Ground Truthing 2

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

Ground Truthing 3

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

Ground Truthing 4

ROV image used to ground truth the backscatter observations.

The Galapagos Rift makes up a tiny portion (86-89° W longitude) of the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a global chain of rarely-seen volcanic activity.

The Galapagos Rift makes up a tiny portion of the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a global chain of rarely-seen volcanic activity.

Diffuse venting areas, such as this one found on an early dive, host unique microbial communities fueled by nutrients contained in the escaping hydrothermal fluids.

Microbial Communities

Diffuse venting areas host unique microbial communities fueled by nutrients in the escaping hydrothermal fluids.

A Brachyuran crab rests on rock near a site of diffused venting.

Brachyuran Crab

A Brachyuran crab rests on rock near a site of diffused venting.

To try and close range on the location of the vents near the 2a site, EX ran a CTD tow-yo along the axis after Dive 2. The black dotted line marks the up-and-down path of the CTD as the ship tows it through the water. The tow found a continuous plume along more than a mile of track line, with some turbidity values higher than anything measured during Leg 1. The highest values were found near the western end of the track, with some lower values near the middle.

To try and close range on the location of the vents near the 2a site, EX ran a CTD tow-yo along the axis after Dive 2.

The original cruise plan overlaid in Google Earth, showing proposed dive targets 1-4 along with many previously identified sites along the Galápagos Rift.

The original cruise plan overlaid in Google Earth, showing proposed dive targets 1-4.

$Chunks of pillow lava that cooled rapidly enough to produce a glassy surface and relatively sharp fractures.$

Chunks of pillow lava that cooled rapidly enough to produce a glassy surface and relatively sharp fractures.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows, indicating where low-temperature hydrothermal fluid has been leaking out of the crust.

A recent pillow lava flow with biological material resting between the pillows.

A recent lava flow showing white microbial staining on the broken basaltic rocks, caused by discharge of warm hydrothermal fluids through the seafloor.

A recent lava flow showing white microbial staining on the broken basaltic rocks.

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, several meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor. The pink staining is a combination of biological and chemical processes.

Extinct Chimney

A field of extinct sulfide chimneys, several meters high, rise above the surrounding seafloor.

SST Peters installs the Altimeter and battery pack on the CTD frame in preparation for Tow-Yo operations. The altimeter measures the distance of the CTD package from the seafloor while it is near the bottom.

CTD Frame Preparation

SST Peters installs the Altimeter and battery pack on the CTD frame in preparation for Tow-Yo operations.

CTD monitoring crew.

CTD monitoring crew.

SST Peters collects water samples from a vertical cast conducted at the site of the strongest plume signal, shown in the data plot.

SST Peters collects water samples from a vertical cast conducted at the site of the strongest plume signal

This is a plot of the data from Tow 02 on Leg 2. The x axis displays the longitude of the tow, the vertical axis is depth, and the shading along the tow is the Light Scattering Sensor data. The dark patch on the left (beginning of tow) is the strongest plume signal.

This is a plot of the data from Tow 02 on Leg 2.

This image demonstrates the concept of a CTD Tow-Yo. The CTD is lowered to within 20 meters of the seafloor, and then is cycled between near-bottom and 300 meters above the seafloor (like a yo-yo) as it is towed behind the ship. Sensor data is recorded and monitored continuously to look for signs that plumes from hydrothermal vents are present. Displayed is a perspective view (looking Southeast) of one line of EX EM302 data over the Sandwell and Smith background data.

This image demonstrates the concept of a CTD Tow-Yo.

Paramount Seamount at ~800m depth.

Paramount Seamount at ~800m depth.

Squat lobsters in the seamount transition zone, a flat area between the rim and the summit cone.

Squat lobsters in the seamount transition zone, a flat area between the rim and the summit cone.

Pink brittle stars in the 400m shallow zone along the summit margin.

Pink Brittle Stars

Pink brittle stars in the 400m shallow zone along the summit margin.

This black coral, in addition to the two galatheid crabs weighing it down, possessed strange tendrils hanging in the water column, seemingly wrapped around its stalk.

This black coral possessed strange tendrils hanging in the water column, seemingly wrapped around its stalk.

EX Program Manager Craig Russell explains the data path necessary for video and audio from the Okeanos Explorer to reach the ECCs in real time.

EX Program Manager Craig Russell explains the data path necessary for video and audio to reach the ECCs.

EM302 multibeam sonar data overlaid in Google Earth, showing the particular seamount in the Paramount chain where the dive was conducted.

Multibeam Sonar

EM302 multibeam sonar data overlaid in Google Earth, showing the seamount in the Paramount chain where the dive was conducted.

An unidentified species of eel peeks up at the ROV from its hole in the seafloor sand.

An unidentified species of eel peeks up at the ROV from its hole in the seafloor sand.

Scientists Scott White (left) and Jim Holden (right) observe the video feed from Little Hercules and record their observations in the Eventlog.

Recording Observations

Scientists Scott White and Jim Holden observe the video feed from Little Hercules and record their observations.

Okeanos Explorer digital atlas frame grab showing the ship’s track over the seamount. The science team sought to cling to the edges, where they anticipated coral concentration to be highest.

Okeanos Explorer digital atlas frame grab showing the ship’s track over the seamount.

The Engineering Department and ROV Team spent the better part of several days fabricating equipment to allow quick and safer repairs.

The Engineering Department and ROV Team spent the better part of several days fabricating equipment to allow quick and safer repairs.

Technicians work to repair the satellite antenna in the VSAT dome.

Technicians work to repair the satellite antenna in the VSAT dome.

Just before the ship had to get underway, repair technicians successfully fixed one of the key problems. Though it wasn't enough to enable telepresence, on
board mission personnel implemented a contingency plan to provide partial capability.

Partial Capability

Just before the ship had to get underway, repair technicians successfully fixed one of the key problems, enabling partial capability.

As the ship got closer and closer to a go/no-go departure decision. VSAT repairs stretched well into the early morning hours.

As the ship got closer and closer to a go/no-go departure decision. VSAT repairs stretched well into the early morning hours.

Matt O’Leary, Jerrod Hozendorf, and Brian Kennedy on the bridge of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Matt O’Leary, Jerrod Hozendorf, and Brian Kennedy on the bridge of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Exterior shot of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer while in transit.

Exterior shot of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer while in transit.

This mug from the Ship Store perhaps best describes the many unknowns just a few months ago.

This mug from the Ship Store perhaps best describes the many unknowns just a few months ago.

Locations of mantle “hotspots” (orange dots) around the globe. The Galápagos hotspot is marked by the large star.

Locations of mantle “hotspots” (orange dots) around the globe. The Galápagos hotspot is marked by the large star.

Bathymetry of the Galápagos Rift region, showing the work areas for Leg 1 of GALREX.

Bathymetry of the Galápagos Rift region, showing the work areas for Leg 1 of GALREX.

High resolution EM302 bathymetry collected by the Okeanos Explorer during the EX1103 Leg.

EM302 Bathymetry

High resolution EM302 bathymetry collected by the Okeanos Explorer during the EX1103 Leg.

Oblique angle showing detail of gridded EM302 multibeam bathymetry along Western Galápagos Rift.

Western Galápagos Rift

Oblique angle showing detail of gridded EM302 multibeam bathymetry along Western Galápagos Rift.

An example of a CTD “tow-yo” hunting for hydrothermal plumes along the Galápagos Rift during Leg 1.

An example of a CTD “tow-yo” hunting for hydrothermal plumes along the Galápagos Rift during Leg 1.

Oblique angle showing detail of gridded EM302 multibeam bathmetry along Western Galápagos Rift.

Oblique angle showing detail of gridded EM302 multibeam bathmetry along Western Galápagos Rift.

Depth profile corresponding to labled points A and B in Figure 6. The spreading center valley is clearly visible at the top of the ridge.

Bubble plume image captured with multibeam sonar on Kilo Moana, March 2010. The red base is the summit of NW Rota-1 volcano on the Mariana arc.

High resolution EM302 bathymetry collected by the Okeanos Explorer during EX1103 Leg. Image shown north up, grid cell resolution 50 meters.

The ROV team prepares Seirios for the next dive during an ROV shakedown cruise conducted off the coast of the Channel Islands, CA in April 2011.

The ROV team prepares Seirios for the next dive during an ROV shakedown cruise in April 2011.

Seirios Camera Sled in the test tank after significant fabrication modifications, and engineering upgrades.

Seirios Camera Sled in the test tank after significant fabrication modifications, and engineering upgrades.

Little Hercules during one of his first dives in Indonesia. A number of organizations and people were critical to bringing him back.

Little Hercules

Little Hercules during one of his first dives in Indonesia. A number of organizations and people were critical to bringing him back.

The Garden of Eden vent field as seen most recently by Alvin in 2005. This site, hosting Riftia tubeworm tubes, greater than 10 feet in length (shown here), was among the first to be discovered along the Rift, and as of 2005, has been active for more than 20 years.

The Garden of Eden vent field as seen most recently by Alvin in 2005.

Rosebud vent site as seen during its discovery in 2002. The well-developed faunal communities documented 12 years earlier (in 1990) at Rose Garden were apparently buried by a new lava flow just prior to 2002. The Rosebud site, approximately 200 meters northwest of Rose Garden, supported vent animal communities that are presently in the early stages of
development. The largest Riftia tubeworms shown here, all less than 2 feet-tall, colonize diffuse vent habitats between broken pieces of fresh lava.

Rosebud vent site as seen during its discovery in 2002.

The Calyfield clam field was the western-most known vent field on the Galápagos Rift when discovered 89.6°W. The field hosts a large vesicomyid (Calyptogena magnifica) clam, mussel (Bathymodiolus thermophilus), and endemic sponge community that covers an approximately 60 m x 60 m area. In 2002, extinct high-temperature sulfide chimneys were discovered
several hundred meters northeast of Calyfield.

The Calyfield clam field was the western-most known vent field on the Galápagos Rift when discovered 89.6°W.

The 2011 expedition will explore black smoker areas using the Institute for Exploration’s Little Hercules ROV.

The 2011 expedition will explore black smoker areas using the Institute for Exploration’s Little Hercules ROV.

Map of some of the high-temperature and low temperature vent fields and plume signals known prior to GALREX 2011.

Plate Tectonic Boundary

Plate tectonic boundary map of Galápagos region. Galápagos islands are to the south of the spreading ridge.

Multibeam bathymetry of the spreading axis of the Galápagos rift in the area of investigations on Leg 2. Hotter colors (red) are shallower depth, and the map is shaded relief illuminated from the north to better show the seafloor shape.

Multibeam Bathymetry

Multibeam bathymetry of the spreading axis of the Galápagos rift in the area of investigations on Leg 2.

One of the first images of black smokers on the Galapagos Rift (the Navidad vent field) in December 2005.

One of the first images of black smokers on the Galapagos Rift (the Navidad vent field) in December 2005.

Map of some of the high-temperature and low temperature vent fields and plume signals known prior to GALREX 2011.

Map of some of the high-temperature and low temperature vent fields and plume signals known prior to GALREX 2011.

Bythograeid crabs and the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila found at the ‘Rosebud’ vent site.

Tubeworms and Crabs

Bythograeid crabs and the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila found at the ‘Rosebud’ vent site.

The giant clam Calyptogena magnifica was seen in abundance at the “Calyfield” vent field.

Calyptogena magnifica

The giant clam Calyptogena magnifica was seen in abundance at the “Calyfield” vent field.

During the expedition, scientists and technicians will focus on little known areas in international and Ecuador waters in the vicinity of the Galápagos Islands.

Scientists and technicians will focus on little known areas in international and Ecuador waters in the vicinity of the Galápagos Islands.

This vent site on the Galápagos Rift, discovered in 2002, is called “Calyfield” after the clam (Calyptogena magnifica).

This vent site on the Galápagos Rift, discovered in 2002, is called “Calyfield” after the clam (Calyptogena magnifica).

The Galápagos Rift Expedition 2011 marks the debut of a new camera and lighting platform named “Seirios”.

The Galápagos Rift Expedition 2011 marks the debut of a new camera and lighting platform named “Seirios”.