Gulf of Alaska Seamounts 2019

Gulf of Alaska Seamounts 2019

Image and Video Gallery

This page contains photos and videos associated with the Gulf of Alaska Seamounts 2019 Expedition. Click on any image or video to view a larger version and for additional information.

Video clip of marine snow in the deep Gulf of Alaska.

Video clip of marine snow in the deep Gulf of Alaska.

The cockatoo squid (Cranchiidae) filmed by the Global Explorer is all grace and elegance.

The cockatoo squid (Cranchiidae) filmed by the Global Explorer is all grace and elegance.

Inside the ROV control van, pilots and scientists alike are fascinated by the underwater world to be discovered.

Inside the ROV control van, pilots and scientists alike are fascinated by the underwater world to be discovered.

The deep-sea corals found on the seamounts are not only astounding themselves but also provide habitat for a large number of other organisms.

The deep-sea corals found on the seamounts are not only astounding themselves but also provide habitat for other organisms.

This fragile beauty is called Solmissus and never ceased to surprise with its simple beauty.

Solmissus Jelly

This fragile beauty is called Solmissus and never ceased to surprise with its simple beauty.

The multinet is an arrangement of nets that can be opened and closed at particular water depths so that only the zooplankton of a specific depth is caught in each of the nets.

The multinet is an arrangement of nets that can be opened and closed at particular water depths.

Called “big red” for the time being, this is a relatively large copepod that is a voracious predator on other zooplankton.

Called “Big Red” for the time being, this is a relatively large copepod that is a voracious predator on other zooplankton.

Bathymetric map of seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. Color show different bottom depth and the white areas indicate regions where the seafloor has not yet been mapped.

The multinet is an arrangement of nets that can be opened and closed at particular water depths.

The box corer is like a gigantic cookie cutter that can take out a chunk of seafloor mud.

The box corer is like a gigantic cookie cutter that can take out a chunk of seafloor mud.

One of the heavyduty metal pipes of the box corer that got crushed under the immense pressure at 4500 m depth!

One of the heavyduty metal pipes of the box corer that got crushed under the immense pressure at 4500 m depth!

The light sediment layer between the darker top and bottom layers tells a story of past geologic events.

The light sediment layer between the darker top and bottom layers tells a story of past geologic events.

Periphyllopsis braueri is a particularly large jelly of a distinctive red color.

Red Steamed Bun Jelly

Periphyllopsis braueri is a particularly large jelly of a distinctive red color.

What has been assumed to be one widely distributed species, Aegina citrea, is more likely to be several closely related species.

What has been assumed to be one widely distributed species, Aegina citrea, is more likely to be several closely related species.

The Global Explorer ROV is being lifted over the side of the ship for a dive.

The Global Explorer ROV is being lifted over the side of the ship for a dive.

Image of the water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of oxygen on the horizontal axis. Extreme low concentrations (Oxygen Minimum Zone) can be seen at 750 m.

Image of the water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of oxygen on the horizontal axis.

Image of the water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of oxygen on the horizontal axis. Extreme low concentrations (Oxygen Minimum Zone) can be seen at 750 m.

O₂ Saturation

Image of the water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of oxygen on the horizontal axis.

Eric Collins is taking a water sample from the CTD.

Eric Collins is taking a water sample from the CTD.

The South Polar Skua is a rare visitor in Alaskan waters.

The South Polar Skua is a rare visitor in Alaskan waters.

Callie Gesmundo is spending long hours on the ship’s bride observing seabirds and marine mammals.

Observing Seabirds

Callie Gesmundo is spending long hours on the ship’s bride observing seabirds and marine mammals.

The box corer is on deck and it is a success – there is mud!

The box corer is on deck and it is a success – there is mud!

The mud inside the box corer is carefully sliced and sampled for a large variety of scientific analyses.

The mud inside the box corer is carefully sliced and sampled.

Brittany Jones is carefully rinsing the top layer of the mud over a fine mesh to look for tiny critters inhabiting the deep sea.

Brittany Jones is carefully rinsing the top layer of the mud.

The CTD instrument is lowered into the water to measure the water column profiles.

The CTD instrument is lowered into the water to measure the water column profiles.

The image shows water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of fluorescence on the horizontal axis. The spike in fluorescence, a measure of chlorophyll, can be seen at 22 m.

The image shows water column depth on the vertical axis and the amount of fluorescence on the horizontal axis.

Kate Ariola is learning how to “mouth a shackle” on the fishing net.

Kate Ariola is learning how to “mouth a shackle” on the fishing net.

A cockatoo squid found at 527 m depth along the Gulf of Alaska continental slope.

A cockatoo squid found at 527 m depth along the Gulf of Alaska continental slope.

An acorn worm (left) and a sea urchin (right) were common members of the deep-sea benthic community at 24500 m depth on the continental slope.

An acorn worm (left) and a sea urchin (right) were common members of the deep-sea benthic community.

This octopus was trying to make itself invisible against the seafloor when the ROV came close.

This octopus was trying to make itself invisible against the seafloor when the ROV came close.

This large purple sea cucumber is using its front tentacles to gather up food from the sediment at 2500 m depth.

This large purple sea cucumber is using its front tentacles to gather up food from the sediment at 2500 m depth.

A deep-water snail fish captured by the ROV.

A deep-water snail fish captured by the ROV.

A Pacific Grenadier fish was a frequent visitor of the ROV at 2500 m depth.

A Pacific Grenadier fish was a frequent visitor of the ROV at 2500 m depth.

Kelly Walker (left) and her team members are busy rinsing the catch from the beam trawl during night time trawling.

Catch and Rinse

Kelly Walker (left) and her team members are busy rinsing the catch from the beam trawl during night time trawling.

Operations on deck require everybody to wear a hard hat, a floating device and gloves.

Operations on deck require everybody to wear a hard hat, a floating device and gloves.

Science crew is practicing to put on the survival suits in case of an emergency.

Science crew is practicing to put on the survival suits in case of an emergency.

Sikuliaq docked in Seward Alaska, ready for her next cruise to the Gulf of Alaska Seamounts.

Sikuliaq docked in Seward Alaska, ready for her next cruise to the Gulf of Alaska Seamounts.

Sikuliaq being loaded with science gear.

Sikuliaq being loaded with science gear.

The benthic team is preparing a fish trawl net, ready to explore the deep seafloor.

Fish Trawl Net

The benthic team is preparing a fish trawl net, ready to explore the deep seafloor.

This is a microscopic photo of a bacterium called Marinomonas arctica, which can grow inside of Arctic sea ice at subzero temperatures!

Marinomonas arctica

Marinomonas arctica can grow inside of Arctic sea ice at subzero temperatures!

This is a microscopic photo of a bacterium called Pelagibacter ubique, the most common bacterium in the ocean!

Pelagibacter ubique

Pelagibacter ubique, the most common bacterium in the ocean!

A trawl catch of the rich benthic fauna on the Arctic shelf at 50 meters depth showing lots of brittle stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers.

A trawl catch of the rich benthic fauna on the Arctic shelf at 50 meters depth showing lots of brittle stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers.

The carnivorous sponge Chondrocladia grandis off Baffin Island, Canada. Note the inflated spheres and how its main body protrudes into the sediment.

The carnivorous sponge Chondrocladia grandis off Baffin Island, Canada.

Periphylla sp. is a delicate jellyfish that can be found in the deeper waters in the Gulf of Alaska.

Delicate Jellyfish

Periphylla sp. is a delicate jellyfish that can be found in the deeper waters in the Gulf of Alaska.

Beroe abyssicola is a comb jelly, which is a voracious predator in the deeper waters of the Gulf of Alaska up to the Arctic.

Beroe abyssicola is a comb jelly, which is a voracious predator in the deeper waters of the Gulf of Alaska up to the Arctic.

Sabine's gull, like this immature bird and adults during the non-breeding season, are highly pelagic in both the Pacific and Atlantic, but they breed in the Arctic tundra.

Sabine's gull, like this immature bird and adults during the non-breeding season, are highly pelagic in both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Short-tailed albatross, an endangered species, can occur near the seamounts and in low numbers throughout the northern GOA, but breed primarily on a volcanic island near Japan.

Short-tailed Albatross

Short-tailed albatross, can occur near the seamounts, but breed primarily on a volcanic island near Japan.

Buller's shearwaters are highly pelagic during the non-breeding season, and are at the northern edge of their range during our summer, before heading back to New Zealand for the nesting season.

Buller's Shearwater

Buller's shearwaters are at the northern edge of their range during our summer, before heading back to NZ for nesting season.

Black-footed albatross, which breed in the western Hawaiian Islands, travel widely across the northern Gulf of Alaska, and are most commonly observed along the shelf slope and break.

Black-footed Albatross

Black-footed albatross, which breed in the western Hawaiian Islands, travel widely across the northern Gulf of Alaska.

Bathymetric map of the Gulf of Alaska, showing its deep basin with seamount chains. Grey – land, Green – continental shelf, Yellow – continental slope, Orange – deep basin.

Gulf of Alaska Map

Bathymetric map of the Gulf of Alaska, showing its deep basin with seamount chains.

Side-scan sonar bathymetry of the Giacomini and Quinn seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska, which are target seamounts in this mission.

Side-scan Sonar Bathymetry

Side-scan sonar bathymetry of the Giacomini and Quinn seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska, which are target seamounts in this mission.

The R/V Sikuliaq, a world-class oceanographic research vessel owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks returns to its home port in Seward Alaska to pick up a new science crew.

The R/V Sikuliaq, a world-class oceanographic research vessel owned by the National Science Foundation.

The ROV “Global Explorer” by Oceaneering has a multitude of imaging and sampling capabilities ideal for deep-water exploration.

ROV Global Explorer

The ROV “Global Explorer” by Oceaneering has a multitude of imaging and sampling capabilities ideal for deep-water exploration.