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T2 is
in the vent below the fluid intake funnel.
T1 is located inside the fluid sampling funnel.
The fluid sample bottles at on the underside of the yellow flotation
balls on the RAS frame. A HOBO (high temperature recorder) is adjacent
at the base of the funnel tripod. (click
for full-size) |
The NeMO
Net RAS sampler was deployed on September 1, 2003 in the ASHES
vent field. RAS was recovered on May 11, 2005. The system is located
at Virgin vent, a high-temperature, anhydrite chimney. The RAS will monitor
the chemistry and temperature of this vent over the next year.
The instrument
is capable of collecting 48 vent fluid and particle samples in a time-series.
The system is a McLane 48-500 Remote Access Sampler, with hardware and
software enhancements done at PMEL. Temperature measurements are made
every 10 minutes. The sampler is programmed to take a water/particle sample
once per week and collect chemical sensor data (pH and H2S) twice per
week. The system can also be sent a command at any time via satellite
to collect samples or send back temperature data. This interactivity will
allow us to take samples quickly and at critical times, for example in
response to any seismic or volcanic activity, long before any ship could
get to the site. By having this instrument in place we hope to learn more
about the dynamic early stages of such events.
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RAS being deployed at Virgin vent. Behind
the RAS is the NeMO Net buoy awaiting deployment. (click for full-size) |
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For more
information use the following links to NeMO Explorer:
Hydrothermal
vents
Anhydrite
chimneys
Diffuse
vents
ASHES virtual reality
site
Video clip
of Virgin vent
NeMO at Axial
Volcano
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