2024 RCA Operations and Maintenance Expedition
"If I were to pick two words for the trip so far they would be Generosity and Wonder" Ph.D Student Nicole Sams
On August 8, 2024 the UW Regional Cabled Array team started its annual operations expedition with worksites spanning the Cascadia Margin off Newport Oregon (80 m to 2900 m water depth) and 300 miles offshore to Axial Seamount, the most active submarine volcano off our coast. The expedition is using the R/V Atlantis with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason. During the cruise, we will be turning over 100 instruments connected to the cabled array. Over 30 different kinds of sensors (e.g. seismometers, pH an CO2 instruments, digital still and HD video cameras) directly connected to the Internet, stream data 24/7 in real-time to shore at the speed of light for a global communitiy to use. You can watch live streaming video of deck opertions while the Atlantis is transiting and also for all dives with Jason (now working at a highly active methane seep).
Under the auspices of the VISIONS '24 program, 23 undergraduate students will experience a rare, cutting-edge research opportunity during the three legs of the cruise. Working in the ROV control center, alongside the pilots and RCA team, they get to see places few humans have seen and they are developing research and engagment projects. Also joining the cruise, are two UW Ph.D students, and postdoctoral scholar (and former UW undergrad alumna!) Katie Bigham as Co-Chief Scientist on Legs 1 and 2 as she learns the ropes for her future career involving this important role.
Chief Scientist Deb Kelley will be going back out to sea on Leg 3, where part of the research focus will be on Axial Seamount, working in the caldera and at the hydrothermal vents. Axial is poised to erupt with 100's to greater than 1000 earthquakes a day, which are directly linked to lunar tides. Please jon us on this expedtion and share the excitement of the students onboard through reading their blogs and our cruise stories. The site also includes stunning imagery of the seafloor and deep sea animals. This year, many more sharks have "visited" us than in past years.
The cruise goes until September 9th.
"If I were to pick two words for the trip so far they would be Generosity and Wonder" Ph.D Student Nicole Sams
