Teacher Logbook:
Tuesday, July 4th, 2000 2100 hrs.

ROPOS returned to hydrothermal vent areas "Marker 33" and "Cloud" on the east portion of Axial's caldera last night after a year's absence. A time lapse camera, osmotic samplers, bacterial traps and MTR's (temperature sensors) were left during NeMO '99 along a diffuse vent. They were all successfully retrieved and will be brought up for data analysis. Several new instruments were deployed, including invertebrate larval traps, which we will pick up several days down the road.

After the long, productive dive last night, and with ROPOS on deck, we headed due north for the 5 hour trip to meet up with the R/V ATLANTIS. During our rendezvous, we picked up a few scientists including David Butterfield, a chemist from the University of Washington, and a vent fluid sampler. The exchange was the highlight of the day with the whole science party standing on the deck to watch it transpire. The method was by way of a small inflatable boat. Scary thought. Luckily, it was sunny with calm seas. Smooth sailing. The R/V ATLANTIS "parked" about 1/4 mile away while the exchange took place. Several members of our science party contemplated taking over their ship but refrained due to dive schedule constraints.

After the exchange we had our 4th of July R/V RONALD H. BROWN Hydrothermal Vent BBQ. Everyone sat out on the bow and ate in the sun while we steamed back to Axial Volcano for our next dive. Just before putting ROPOS in the water we had our pyrotechnic display over the bow. It's been a festive day out here. ROPOS is currently diving at a mature (discovered 15 years ago) vent field named ASHES and we'll have lots of critter samples tomorrow.

Jeff

R/V Atlantis exchanges scientists and equipment with NeMO.