Science at Warp Speed

Today was another furiously paced workday on the R/V Atlantis. The dive today would visit 3 sites: Tica, Biovent, and Bio9. Strange names for out of this world sites!

The ALVIN dives work like clockwork. 7:00AM briefing and loading of days materials on board, 8:00 AM departure for dive, 5:00 PM surface and brought back on board. During the day we work in the laboratory, analyzing data collected from the day before. At 3:00 PM I go to the bridge and talk to the ALVIN about scientific materials that have been collected from dive plan and all the associated scientific data - major sampler collection & where, temperature at hydrothermal vent, and any biological/geological specimens collected during the trip. I then post on the main lab board so we can begin to prepare.

Once the ALVIN has been brought back on deck, the fun really begins!

Everything is collected off the ALVIN. Sometimes at a rather hectic pace!

Dr. Eric DeCarlo from the University of Hawaii is all smiles as he observes a vent sample collected. Dr. DeCarlo teaches marine science at Hawaii and lives in Honolulu. He is also an avid surfer and ocean historian. We have had some great talks about Polynesian stick charts.

Dr. DeCarlo has graciously agreed to send me cowry shells (he has a large bag of them) that the original maps were made from. That is pretty cool!

He is also an avid Barcelona soccer fan (his family is from Spain) and has been all around the Pacific. I have listened to some great stories while on this trip and Dr. DeCarlo has provided me with lots of information about oceanography. Eric, Lisa Tossey, and I are responsible for putting together the cruise video that shows the "highlights" of what went on out here.

Putting together a highlight video is no small task. It requires watching video and selecting just the most important parts of over 100+ hours. At least it is in HD!

More rock samples to be analyzed for iron pyrite and other mineral content.

This sample provided biological samples of pompeii worms. These are their tubes. They are about 2-3 inches long.

Everything is scrutinized for life. Here is a very small crab that lives among the basalt rocks.

While we have biologists studying the many different animals that we find, the main purpose of this research is on the water chemistry. Another one of my jobs on this cruise has been to make sure that the majors have been properly cleaned after each dive, washed with acid and deionized water, dried and then put back together. There are 6 of them, all double samplers, with the average dive taking 3 samples.

Once the water samples have been collected and brought to the lab, the major samplers must be drained.

They are color coded since they are used to record different samples at different locations and temperatures.

Each of the titanium containers holds up to 1L of hot vent fluid, that usually smells strongly of hydrogen sulfide. Some of the sample water is taken to the scientists studying manganese reactions, some goes to those studying iron reactions, and then the final amounts go to the sulfide scientists. It is quite a production.

The water is carefully removed from the bottom of the sampler, once it has been fired.

The water is then carefully collected and then studied. Electrochemical tests done on the water reveal the many redox reactions that are occuring. It also helps explain how certain metals are being oxidized to form ions and then reduced to form yet even other ions. Wow! When I can, I help them with their research.

I used major samplers before, during my 2012 mid-atlantic ridge cruise. Most dives use 3 majors, but a few in the next few days require 6. I am going to be really busy. I can get them back up and ready to use the next morning pretty quickly, but as you can see there are a lot of parts to be put back together. The picture above displays all the parts drying for 1 major sampler pair.

Why titanium metal? Titanium, as it turns out, is the best metal for strength along with non-reactivity to what is inside, ensuring that the sample is in the most inert container possible to avoid contamination.

Late tonight, I still found some time to pack cups for tomorrow's ALVIN dive. We are used to long days with lots of coffee! Look familiar? These are the cups I had my marine science classes decorate the monday before I left.

I will post a picture of the final products tomorrow when I collect them off the basket. See you then!