DeepCCZ

DeepCCZ

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the DeepCCZ expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Expedition Summary

Expedition Summary

See footage from the expedition and learn more about why scientists are exploring the depths of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

A Large Sea Cucumber

A Large Sea Cucumber

A large sea cucumber, Psychropotes longicauda, on the abyssal plain.

Map of the Abyssal Pacific Seafloor

Map of the Abyssal Pacific Seafloor

Map of the abyssal Pacific seafloor targeted for seafloor nodule mining showing the areas where mining contactors will work and areas protected from mining (APEIs).

Recovering the ROV Lu’ukai

Recovering the ROV Lu’ukai

The team recovering the ROV Lu’ukai after a successful dive.

Jen Durden – Postdoctoral Fellow

Jen Durden – Postdoctoral Fellow

Kim Krueger – Chief Mate

Kim Krueger – Chief Mate

Astrid Leitner – PhD Student

Astrid Leitner – PhD Student

A stalked glass sponge (Class: Hexactinellida) “growing” on the abyssal plain of APEI 4.

A Stalked Glass Sponge

A stalked glass sponge (Class: Hexactinellida) “growing” on the abyssal plain of APEI 4.

A sediment core, collected from the seafloor using the ROV.

A Sediment Core

A sediment core, collected from the seafloor using the ROV.

Manganese nodules: at the size of large potatoes, these are tens of millions of years old.

A Manganese Nodule

Manganese nodules: at the size of large potatoes, these are tens of millions of years old.

Upper: the manganese-encrusted ear bone of a whale amongst a small whale skull before it is sampled by the ROV. Lower: that same ear bone, photographed in the lab.

Ear Bone of a Whale

Upper: the manganese-encrusted ear bone of a whale amongst a small whale skull before it is sampled by the ROV. Lower: that same ear bone, photographed in the lab.

Malihini chamber.

Malihini Lander

Malihini chamber.

The Microprofiler lander AKA Yellow Tang at its first deployment.

The Microprofiler

The Microprofiler lander AKA Yellow Tang at its first deployment.

The Respirometer lander AKA Malihini (Hawaiian for newcomer).

The Respirometer

The Respirometer lander AKA Malihini (Hawaiian for newcomer).

X-axis: depth in centimeters above (blue) and in the sediment (brown). Y-axis: oxygen concentration in micromoles per liter.

Oxygen Sediment Profile from APEI 7

X-axis: depth in centimeters above (blue) and in the sediment (brown). Y-axis: oxygen concentration in micromoles per liter.

X-axis: depth in centimeters above (blue) and in the sediment (brown). Y-axis: oxygen concentration in micromoles per liter.

Oxygen Sediment Profile from the Baltic Sea

X-axis: depth in centimeters above (blue) and in the sediment (brown). Y-axis: oxygen concentration in micromoles per liter.

A 40 centimeter long elasipod sea cucumber about to be collected by the ROV Lu’ukai’s manipulator. This sea cucumber, with 92 feet, 7 lips, and numerous spikey processes, and was found at 3,500 meter depth atop a seamount. It walks along the seafloor using its 92 podia or feet.

Collecting a Sea Cucumber

A 40 centimeter long elasipod sea cucumber about to be collected by the ROV Lu’ukai’s manipulator.

Gummy squirrel (“Psychropotes longicauda”) at 5,100 meters depth on abyssal sediments in the western CCZ. This animal is ~60 centimeters long (including tail), with red feeding palps (or “lips”) visibly extended from its anterior end (right).

“Gummy Squirrel”

Gummy squirrel (“Psychropotes longicauda”) at 5,100 meters depth on abyssal sediments in the western CCZ.

Underside of a gummy squirrel photographed on shipboard showing its bright red feeding palps (flower-like structure) and underbelly.

Underside of a “Gummy Squirrel”

Underside of a gummy squirrel photographed on shipboard showing its bright red feeding palps (flower-like structure) and underbelly.

A close-up of the mouth of a brittle star from APEI 7.

The Mouth of a Brittle Star

A close-up of the mouth of a brittle star from APEI 7.

A newly discovered worm species from APEI 4 that is unknown to science, this species will be given a description and a name.

A Newly Discovered Worm Species

A newly discovered worm species from APEI 4 that is unknown to science.

When comparing DNA sequences between species we can see which ones belong to the same species and which ones are different.

DNA Sequence Comparison

When comparing DNA sequences between species we can see which ones belong to the same species and which ones are different.

A decorated cup before and after it was sent down to 5,000 meters on a CTD cast on the abyssal plain, with a normal cup for scale. This cup shrunk from 13.5 centimeters tall to only 6.5 centimeters.

Before and After Sending a Cup Down

A decorated cup before and after it was sent down to 5,000 meters on a CTD cast on the abyssal plain.

The core being processed in the lab following return of the ROV to the sea surface.

Processing a Sediment Core Sample

The core being processed in the lab following return of the ROV to the sea surface.

In the satellite map, lighter blue areas indicate raised areas of the sea floor. The lighter the blue, the more likely it is a seamount. In the multibeam map, the track that the ship mapped during the transit from APEI 7 is overlaid over the satellite map. Red indicates depths shallower than 3,000 meters and dark blue indicates depths greater than 5,000 meters.

Comparing Satellite and Multibeam

In the satellite map, lighter blue areas indicate raised areas of the sea floor. In the multibeam map, the track that the ship mapped during the transit from APEI 7 is overlaid over the satellite map.

A blue sky day over the blue ocean in the western CCZ.

A blue sky day over the blue ocean in the western CCZ.

The International Seabed Authority is the regulator for deep-sea mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

International Seabed Authority

The International Seabed Authority is the regulator for deep-sea mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

A meeting of the International Seabed Authority.

International Seabed Authority

A meeting of the International Seabed Authority.

A map of the existing multibeam data from the CCZ with the main Hawaiian Islands included for reference.

A map of the existing multibeam data from the CCZ with the main Hawaiian Islands for reference.

A map of APEI 7 with predicted bathymetry from satellite observation techniques as the background and all previously existing publically available bathymetry overlaid. Our seamount of interest is circled in red.

A map of APEI 7 with bathymetry data.

Before (left) and after (right) shots of the seamount of interest.

Before and after shots of the seamount of interest.

Deploying the CTD

Deploying the CTD

The conductivity, temperature, depth sampling package (CTD) getting ready to be deployed from the ship.

A Sediment Core

A Sediment Core

Sediment cores are collected using the remotely operated vehicle.

Sediment Cross Sections

Sediment Cross Sections

The sediment is sub-sectioned into vertical horizons for subsequent analyses in the laboratory.

Assortment of Near-bottom Meroplankton

Assortment of Near-bottom Meroplankton

A small assortment of near-bottom meroplankton from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

Deploying the Plankton Pumps

Deploying the Plankton Pumps

Our lander with plankton pumps “Arnold” and “BBBB” being deployed.

Rattail Fish and White Cusk Eels

Rattail Fish and White Cusk Eels

Rattail fish and white cusk eels on the abyssal plain.

Swarm of Cutthroat Eels

Swarm of Cutthroat Eels

A swarm of cutthroat eels on the top of a seamount.

Deploying the ROV

Deploying the ROV

The ROV about to embark into the inky depths.

Aloha Tower in Honolulu

Aloha Tower in Honolulu

Aloha Tower (center) in Honolulu saying goodbye.

The ROV

The ROV, ready for deployment.

First Sunset

A view of our first sunset from the RV Kilo Moana.

Loading the Ship

Loading the Ship

Loading the ship at Pier 35 in Honolulu.

Assembling One of the Landers

Assembling One of the Landers

Marta and Annabell assembling one of the landers.

A Map of Clarion Clipperton Zone

A Map of Clarion Clipperton Zone

Colored areas are those licensed for mining and shaded squares are areas currently protected from mining.

Polymetallic Nodule Abundance Across the CCZ

Polymetallic Nodule Abundance Across the CCZ

Red indicates high abundance, while blue indicates low abundance of nodules.

Seamounts Across the CCZ

Seamounts Across the CCZ

Seamounts across the Clarion Clipperton Zone.

A Previously Unmapped Seamount

A Previously Unmapped Seamount

This seamount has four ridges that radiate outward from the center. This ~4,200-meter (~13,800-foot) high seamount was almost 1,000 meters taller than previously thought.

Inspecting Animals at Sea

Inspecting Animals at Sea

Dr. Adrian Glover inspects animals using a microscope while at sea.

Sea Cucumber Amperima

Sea Cucumber Amperima

Dr. Adrian Glover inspects animals using a microscope while at sea.

Relicanthus sp.

Relicanthus sp.

Relicanthus sp.—a new species from a new order of Cnidaria collected at 4,100 meters in the CCZ.