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and the USA. Also in 2008, cruise CE008 on R/V Celtic Explorer
involved a collaboration between UK and Irish scientists
to examine the V-shaped ridges southwest of Iceland (see article
by Murton et al., this volume).
In terms of technology developments in the UK, the AUV Autosub6000
completed its first science mission in summer 2008.
This AUV has 6000-m depth capability, endurance ~36 hours,
and equipment including swath bathymetry, likely to be extended
with a 3-C magnetometer. We anticipate a strong role
for this vehicle in the new IR Working Group “Long-Range
Ridge Exploration.”
A major research cruise on RRS James Cook is planned for
January - February 2009 in the East Scotia Sea with Chief Scientist
Rob Larter. Regional swath mapping will be conducted
and BRIDGET tow-yo and SHRIMP towed camera surveys
will refine hydrothermal vent locations. This cruise is the first
of three cruises funded within a consortium grant programme
led by PI Paul Tyler: ChEsSO; the remaining two cruises will
follow with ROV Isis in 2010 and 2011 visiting the East Scotia
Ridge and Bransfield Strait back-arc basin, respectively.
Recently funded field projects include a study of hydrothermal
activity and deep-ocean biology at the Mid-Cayman Spreading
Centre (PI Jon Copley). This study will use the AUV Autosub6000
to map vents and then ROV Isis to investigate them
in detail. A study of benthic biodiversity of seamounts in the
southwest Indian Ocean, along the axis of the SW Indian
Ridge (PI Alex Rogers) has also been funded, recently.
The medium to long-term outlook for ridge-crest science in the
UK is currently constrained as Discovery approaches its end of
life. The process to procure a replacement for Discovery is under
way, aiming for delivery in 2010/2011. The specification calls
for a ~100-m platform with a high degree of flexibility for modern
marine studies.
USA
Kathleen Phillips and Donna Blackman, SIO Ridge 2000 Office
Mid-term program review
The Ridge 2000 Program (R2K) has transitioned from its initial
phase (2001-2007) to its final phase (2008-2012) following
a major Program Review. The U.S. National Science Foundation
convened an external review panel that concluded the R2K
Program has obtained a strong suite of multi-disciplinary data
at the Integrated Studies Sites (ISS) during its first phase and
has contributed significantly to deep-sea technological development,
which has benefited the entire field. The R2K education
and outreach programs were noted to be exemplary and to
have been particularly effective at the K-12 level. The Program
has collected a unique set of multi-disciplinary, co-located datasets
at three ISS: the East Pacific Rise (EPR) 8-11°N, the
Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and the Eastern
Lau Spreading Center. In order to reach the goals set forth in
the R2K Science Plan, the Review Panel recommended that
the program redirect major efforts to spur integration and synthesis
of these unique datasets and to work towards the development
of models that elucidate the interplay between various
parts of the spreading, hydrothermal, and vent (eco)systems.
The R2K Steering Committee agreed with this recommendation
and has been working to increase integration and synthesis
across the R2K community. Although the majority of R2K
efforts will now focus on integration and synthesis of existing
data, specifically targeted field programs are also expected to
play a role during the Program’s final phase.
Research updates
Several successful research cruises were conducted in the
2007/2008 field season, including one Rapid Response Cruise
in the Juan de Fuca region in response to a seismic swarm north
of the Blanco fracture zone within the Juan de Fuca plate in
late March 2008. The short response cruise, aboard the R/V
Wecoma, was organized by researchers at NOAA/PMEL in Oregon,
and conducted CTD casts to investigate whether there
were any water column anomalies associated with this unusual,
intra-plate swarm. No strong anomalies were observed, however
sample analysis is ongoing at NOAA/PMEL.
At the Lau Basin, a cruise on R/V Kilo Moana, led by Fernando
Martinez, Joe Resing, and Ed Baker, conducted deep-tow sidescan
mapping of the axial region from Tow Cam to ABE vent
fields and a narrower region over the Valu Fa Ridge. Water column
surveys and sampling targeted the extent of hydrothermal
activity associated with mapped seafloor structures.
The recent field season was a busy one at the Endeavour ISS. A
series of R/V Atlantis cruises conducted acoustic scintillation
experiments, complementary survey and mapping work at Axial
Volcano, biological field studies and tubeworm sampling, and
measuring physical properties and sampling of black smokers.
R2K scientists collaborated with NEPTUNE Canada during
recent cruises to Endeavour, being part of the larger effort on
successful installation of 800 km of fiber optic cable as well as
InterRidge News 42 Vol. 17, 2008