MBARI discovers new deep-sea hydrothermal vents using sonar-mapping robot
Monday, May 14, 2012 - 08:30
in Earth & Climate
As the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) descended into the blue depths above the Alarcón Rise, the control room was abuzz with anticipation," wrote MBARI geologist Julie Martin in her April 22nd cruise log. "Today we [are] planning to dive on one of the strangest environments in the deep sea: a hydrothermal vent field. Adding to the teams excitement was the fact that this hydrothermal vent field had never been explored before. In fact, it had only just been discovered... by a robot.