Logbook
July 13, 1999

Thompson Science Report

Perspectives at the End of NeMO99
Bob Embley-NeMO99 Chief Scientist

big seas
Heavy seas on the last days of the cruise prohibited any further dives and made the ride home a rock n' roll experience.
We're now steaming back to Astoria, Oregon after another successful year at the NeMO site on the summit of Axial Volcano. Although the last dives at ASHES Vent field were compromised by the weather, we were able to retrieve some of the instruments and experiments that were deployed last year and to take an array of valuable samples. I'm writing this in my cabin as it rolls back and forth in 18 foot seas that are broadsiding us from the north. (photo right)

Overall, this year's cruise rivaled the success of NeMO98 and the scientific party will again have a full load of samples and data to analyze. The effects of the 1998 eruption are still apparent on the eastern side of the caldera where the lava flow was erupted. Venting continues in many places (e.g. Marker 33, Cloud, and Magnesia), whereas there has been reduction or cessation in others. Although the amount of visually apparent microbial activity (such as the white floc in the water column) has decreased, there continues to be concentrated "snowblower" activity at some vents (e.g. Magnesia Vent) and hyperthermophilic microbes were again found in abundance at most of the diffuse (low temperature) sites, (whose temperature is well below their optimal growth rate). These observations lead to the conclusion that there is still enhanced subsurface microbial growth more than a year and a half after the eruption.

We found the likely southern end of the lava flow about 6 kilometers south of the caldera lava along a spectacular fissure system that was followed for hundreds of meters. In some places the eruption was entirely contained in the 1 to 2 meter wide fissure. Eventually, it overflowed its fissure and erupted in the large mound of lava that we first saw last year. Farther north towards the caldera, the trace of the 1998 lava became more confused as the slightly older eruptions mixed with the 1998 lava. Active hydrothermal venting was only found on the summit of Axial, probably where the underlying zone of molten lava permanently resides. The summit area contains hydrothermal systems formed during several different volcanic or tectonic (earthquake generated) events, providing a natural laboratory for studying colonization and evolution of these unique chemosynthetic ecosystems.

One of the viewers from our WWW audience asked the question:
"What are we doing out here that will make a difference in people's daily lives?"
This is a good question, and I'd like to try and answer it on several levels. First of all, I believe that ocean floor research is one of the last frontiers of terrestrial exploration. We literally know more about what the surface of the moon or even Mars looks like than we do the floor of Earth's oceans. Hidden below the ocean's is the earth's largest volcanic system, the 60,000 km long Mid-Ocean Ridge. The ridge grows by the process of seafloor spreading, by which the earth is actually renewing its surface. Surprisingly, little is known about the actual processes that form this feature, because of the harsh conditions and remoteness of the deep ocean. Volcanic eruptions have to frequently occur along some portion of this ridge, but the only place that can actually be monitored is the small outlier of the ridge in the Northeast Pacific Ocean (because of the Navy's hydrophone net). Knowing when an eruption occurs allows scientists to study the processes that occur when molten rock meets chilled seawater on a giant scale. The chemical and biological processes that occur during and immediately following these events are of increasing interest because of the extremes of temperature and pressure associated with deepsea volcanism. Herein lies the promise of NeMO and other similar projects that seek to monitor active processes in the last frontier environment on earth. We will finally begin to visualize and understand the most active environments on the ocean floor as we can a critical estuary or a rain forest on land. Now is the time to do this, before we, in ignorance, destroy what may help us in the future. Earlier this year, Canada took an historic step in declaring that a major deep-sea vent field on the Endeavour Ridge(about 120 miles north of Axial Volcano) was under study as a possible marine protected area. Most of the Mid-Ocean Ridge is in international waters and therefore not subject to national jurisdiction.

One of the goals of NeMO is a baseline of information that will aid future generations in understanding these environments. Such "basic" research many times leads to applications that could not be predicted at the time. The United States has invested in such basic research as a national policy for more than half a century, and it is apparent that it has paid back to society much more than its bottom line. In the case of NeMO, there may also be more immediate payoffs. The extremes of heat and pressure at the deep hot vent sites give rise to microbial life that may be quite different than anything in the terrestrial ecosystem. On this cruise, a microbe that can thrive at the very fringe of what life can survive at (110 C) was discovered at one of the vents formed following the eruption. Some such "extremophiles" have evolved to produce enzymes that are of great interest to the biotechnology industry. One of the premises of NeMO (based on earlier work) is that Axial Volcano is the best location for these studies because its high level of volcanic activity provides better access to these extreme environments. We all feel extremely pleased that all of the components came together so well, and that nature cooperated (with the eruption) to produce the wonderful natural laboratory within the caldera of Axial Volcano. This year we received a extra bonus when the Rumbleometer was successfully recovered from its lava imprisonment to (hopefully) yield new important data on seafloor eruptions.

By continuing the interdisciplinary study of processes at Axial, we begin to understand how the rest of the Mid-Ocean Ridge works and by inference how the planet reforms its surface.

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Life at Sea: Participant Perspective

Not available today.

Nicole Nasby
Oregon State University

Nicole Well, I guess I should introduce myself as the "woman behind the web" and no, I'm not talking spiders. Although I am a scientist, my role on this cruise has been more of a journalistic nature. I have been the photographer and editor for the daily information that has been sent out on the web page. I guess you could say I've gotten the "birds-eye" view of what goes on around here. The things that have impressed me the most are the amount of preparation and planning required to make a complex operation like this run smoothly, as well as the amount of teamwork and collaboration between scientists and engineers of varying disciplines. It was a treat to see geologists, chemists and biologists working side by side and offering discussions from their perspective. And of course I've learned that the most important qualities to have on a cruise like this are patience and flexibility! Mother Ocean is a powerful force and studying a volcano 1500 meters below the ocean surface is not a simple task. Overall I am impressed with the NeMO program as a long term monitoring site and with all of the of collaborative efforts that are involved.

map Aside from an overall passion for the ocean, my connection to this cruise is through Chief Scientist Bob Embley. I am presently a graduate student at Oregon State University in oceanography and am working on a Masters project with Dr. Embley looking at using high resolution sonar images to do a habitat assessment of Heceta bank (map left), a major fishing bank off the coast of Oregon. My background is in biology and I'm in the Marine Resource Management program at OSU. My interests are in marine conservation and management issues, and I am interested in the applications of using the sonar habitat assessment project for policy decisions in the areas of marine fisheries and marine protected areas. Originally the plan for this cruise was to spend the last few days at Heceta bank and do some exploring with ROPOS, but again, this is where flexibility comes in - we ended up needing all the remaining days to finish up the work at Axial.

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Teacher At Sea Logbook

Thompson Teacher at Sea Log

Teachers log #23 7/13/99

ship The day has finally come that we both dread and look forward to. Over the last few days many have asked if I was ready for the cruise to come to an end. I definitely have mixed emotions about it. This is likely the case whenever you immerse yourself in a task that you find intellectually stimulating and adventurous. Never before had I attempted such a journey; to leave home and family and join a staff of excellent scientists and students for a month long investigation of a topic that I have always thought was fantastic. Fourteen years ago I was introduced to Steve Hammond (Program Manager for the NOAA EOI Program) at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport Oregon. His topic was the hydrothermal venting that was occurring along the Juan de Fuca Ridge (map left, click for full size) and Axial Volcano. At the time, I had no idea these things existed so close. They seemed to be at some exotic local that I knew I would never come close to visiting. For the last month, I have had the privilege of observing true science first hand at a place I never thought possible. The first time that I stepped into the ROPOS lab and had opportunity to view the unique and bizarre world of a hydrothermal vent was fantastic. It certainly beats sitting at home watching a NOVA special or National Geographic video. I have been able to share with many members of the science staff my ideas and ask questions. The images I will return to the classroom with are priceless. To actually see a fissure in the oceans crust where sea floor spreading is occurring is so far superior to any text or periodical photo. You can actually see the heat rising from the crust in the vent fluid. The graceful movements of animals seem so illogical at the extreme pressure they exist at. To hear the excitement in peoples voices, both those who are new and those that are experienced, exclaiming how marvelous what they are witnessing, can be rather contagious. You get to the point that you don't want the dive to end. The collegial atmosphere is one that we don't see as often as we should in any profession. These are just some of the reasons I, and probably others dread this day.

As far as why I am looking forward to the end, well what can I say, I've been at sea for a month. Some of the joys of life at sea include sleeping in a cramped cold bunk, eating regularly (not something I do) and forgetting what day of the week it is because weekends do not exist. I've had time to research a fair bit, I've read some good books, and even sat in on some good movies. But it is time to rejoin the real world I live in. I bring back a lot of thoughts and ideas, some bigger than others. I wish to thank my family for allowing me this opportunity to be away from home and take part in an adventure. The families of the other members of this cruise need thanking also. To all those who have made my job a truly enjoyable experience, thank you. This has been the best classroom learning experience I have had the pleasure to be in. As the NeMO 1999 cruise ends, thanks to all those who logged on to see how we were doing out here.

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Questions & Answers

Question:

I note with interest that this question and answer forum is not just for students. So, I will move to a question that is posed to me, over and over. My daughter is also among the crew onboard, as a lab technician from the University of Washigton. I know why she is excited by what she does - I know why I am excited by what she does. We are just underwater people!. But, as I speak with people about what she is doing for this past month, the one question seems to come up from each person to whom I speak is,

"This is all very interesting. but just what difference does all this make to our everyday lives.?"

And that in a "nutshell" is my question. Beyond the fact that the mountain is there, what can we tell people just why are we climbing this one? Thank you so much for the time you have spent on this WEB site ( and by the way, send my daughter home soon!)

Jeanette Roadruck