On Location Aboard Alvin 2000: Project Overview

Greetings from the R/V Atlantis!

We are sailing from the port of San Diego, California and will be steaming for five days south towards 9 degrees north latitude. We are heading to a location where previous On Location reports by Krista Longnecker have been collected. This site, known affectionately as 9 North, has been revisited by scientists for almost ten years now, as they were fortunate to observe a volcanic eruption of the mid-ocean ridge at 9 North in 1991. Scientists have since been observing the chemical and biological changes in this area as it has recovered from the volcanic eruption.

The objective of this cruise is eleven dives using the deep mini-submarine ALVIN to continue to research the biology and hydrothermal fluid chemistry of the 9 North area.

The ship we are on is the R/V Atlantis operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Our Captain is Gary Chiljean and the Chief Scientist for this leg is Dr. Richard Lutz from Rutgers University in New Jersey. The science party is a mix of people from all over the world including biologists, chemists and several science writers from National Geographic, American Scientist and other publications.

Over the next few weeks I hope to keep you up to date on the activities aboard ship and to introduce you to some of the exciting people out here who keep the ship running, operate the submarine and conduct the scientific research. I hope these On Location reports will give you an idea of what type of work oceanographers are doing as well as what it is like to spend weeks at sea separated (except for email) from the rest of the world.

Other dispatches:

First dispatches from April 9th and 10th
Project overview and launch information!

Dispatch from April 12th
While heading out to dive area 9 North, the crew spots a few interesting sea animals. Much of the time is spent unpacking and testing equipment.

Dispatch from April 13th
Atlantis reaches 13 degrees latitude. Alison and crew test and retest the titanium collection bottles.

Dispatch from April 14th
The first dive of the expedition-Alison joins the crew! Researchers collect anenomes and fluids surrounding hydrothermal vents.

Dispatch from April 15th
Three dives have been completed. The day is spent retrieving cameras, analyzing hydrogen sulfide samples, and training new Alvin pilots.

Dispatch from April 17th
Not all time aboard Atlantis is work! Although shifts are often long, breaks allow for games and relaxation.

Dispatch from April 23rd
Temperature probes are placed near the vents. A lottery to join the crew of Alvin!

Dispatch from April 24th
The last dives of the trip...See how water pressure affects ordinary objects at extreme depths!

Dispatch from April 25th
This incredible voyage aboard Atlantis comes to an end. It's on to Mexico, and finally, back to New Hampshire to analyze our samples.