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Teacher
Logbook:
Monday, July 3, 2000 1800
hrs.
ROPOS spent last night
investigating a hydrothermal vent at South Cleft. Early this morning I
watched the action from the ROPOS control room. The vent stood about 16
meters tall (over 50 ft.) and had multiple chimneys. It spewed forth a
black cloudy fluid; hence the name black smoker. The "smoke" is actually
superheated water with sulfides and sulfates in dissolution. These compounds
either precipitate out creating the towering chimney or are ejected into
the cold oxygenated ocean water forming a plume. Temperatures up to 327°C
(621°F) were measured here in 1995. In contrast, the surrounding ocean
bottom water averages only 2°C or 3°C (36°F). It's like getting in the
shower and not being able to find the right temperature.
ROPOS collected various
samples and placed them into the "bio-box". Upon return, a few of the
scientists were waiting on the fantail of the ship like a kid on Christmas
morning. Samples included some dead tube worm casings covered in sulfides,
a few species of other worms, and part of a sulfide chimney. Everything
was placed in buckets and taken into the lab.
One of the more interesting
things brought up was a small section of wood that was left during last
year's expedition. In only one year it had several types of worms growing
on it and tiny clams that bored their way into the softened 2x4. After
talking to a few scientists I learned that the critters on the wood were
benthic (bottom dwelling) animals specializing in making a living on wood.
That's their habitat. It blows me away to think there are creatures, that
are adapted for wood, at the bottom of the ocean. There's a niche for
everybody.
After exploring the vent,
we put ROPOS on deck and took the 6 hour journey to Axial Volcano for
our next dive. Check us out tomorrow for an update from the Axial Volcano
Hot Spot.
Jeff
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Small section of wood left
one year ago on the bottom, now encased with small worms and clams.
(7/3/00 ROPOS)
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