Explore the Deep Sea
Expeditions
Hot facts
- Each voyage is a feat of organization. Study sites are often thousands of miles from the U.S. home ports of the research ships, so equipment may need to be loaded on board many weeks ahead of time.
- Expeditions usually take months to plan; slots on the ship timetable typically need to be booked over a year ahead.
- Rapid-response expeditions are an exception to this. When an eruption occurs, scientists need to get to the site as quickly as possible.
» An example of a rapid-response expedition.
Photostories
- Preparing for sea: the final 48 hours before an expedition departs
- While the researchers make observations and carry out experiments, the ship is handled by an experienced crew. From engineers to able seamen to cooks, all play a vital role in running an expedition.
- Expedition researchers and crew need to rehearse what to do in case of emergencies such as fires, pirates and sinking ships
Hot links
Fancy becoming an expedition member, as researcher or crew?
- Information about jobs, internships and careers in ocean research, from the Marine Technology Education Center.
- For K-12 teachers, a summer program of research at sea, from the University of Washington.
Deep-sea scientists take part in a wide variety of expeditions to different parts of the world. Websites covering expeditions to seafloor volcanoes and vents include the following:
Researchers work together to explore and study areas where tectonic plates are moving apart.
Dangerous and far away
Ocean-floor volcanoes and vents are mostly found hundreds of miles from land and thousands of feet below the surface of the ocean. Traveling to these areas requires time and a ship. Diving thousands of meters to underwater volcanoes requires sophisticated equipment that can withstand the immense pressure of the deep ocean, not to mention a wide range of temperatures and acidity. So researchers often collaborate to mount expeditions to particular ocean-floor sites.
Many fields of study—working together
The NSF-funded Ridge 2000 program encourages scientists from many different fields of study to work together to share information and ideas. This collaboration helps researchers make faster progress in answering important questions in geology, chemistry, biology and other scientific fields.
Each expedition is led by a chief scientist. He or she decides what research takes place and when. The timetable is carefully planned beforehand, but sometimes has to be revised on short notice—when equipment breaks or a new discovery needs to be explored further.
Cruises by name, not by nature
Life on-board ship is often hectic. A great deal needs to be packed into the schedule. Research continues day and night, with many aboard getting little or no sleep for days in a row. Since the number of berths on each ship is limited, researchers are often short-handed and have to help each other out. So it's somewhat ironic that research expeditions are often referred to as "cruises:" it's hard to imagine a voyage less like the relaxing journey of a holiday cruise.
Most expeditions are planned ahead of time…
Scientists studying mid-ocean ridges typically plan expeditions months or even years ahead. Careful planning helps scientists to:
- Book an appropriate ship. Only a few ships worldwide can host expeditions effectively: they need trained crews and much specialized equipment.
- Make the most of a limited time at sea. Most expeditions last just a few weeks or months, and even if science teams work 24 hours a day, it can be tough to fit everything in.
- Ensure the right equipment and supplies are aboard. Many expeditions study sites far from land; once they leave port, it is often impossible to get hold of any missing gear.
- Link up with other scientists. Scientists are often interested in the same locations, even if they are investigating different things. So researchers often band together to plan an expedition to a particular place. This coordination not only makes efficient use of time, it also aids the science — because discoveries in one field (like chemistry) can help researchers working in another field (like biology).
... Some expeditions need to be put together quickly
Nature isn't always predictable — interesting events often happen without much warning. If scientists want to study the event as it happens, they need to be quick off the mark. This is certainly true for scientists who study the dynamic environments of mid-ocean ridges. The volcanic eruptions and hydrothermal venting along these ridges don't necessarily happen often or last very long. If scientists want to catch these events as they unfold they need to respond quickly, or risk losing the opportunity to collect unique and important information.
