Hot Vents, Cold Ocean: November 2012

About the Expedition

This expedition will explore areas of the deep seabed of the Southern Ocean to locate and investigate hot water vents (hydrothermal vents) and cold seeps. Scientists have discovered that these deep, cold and highly toxic systems are home to many bizarre animals. They have also noticed that some of the most dominant animals in one vent or seep habitat may differ significantly from another vent or seep. For example, the giant tubeworms, Riftia pachyptila, are found in some Pacific vents but have never yet been found to live around vents in the Atlantic, Indian or Arctic Oceans.

On this expedition the scientists will be using Isis, the UK’s deep-diving remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which is based at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC). Isis is capable of working at depths of up to 6500 metres. On this cruise it will be working at depths of 2800 metres using high definition cameras to record the animals living in these habitats.

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Wednesday, 21 November 2012

T minus 1 week