Posts by amber.coogan
Busy Days At Axial Seamount
We returned to our friend Axial Seamount on Monday, August 18 – the weather and sea gods decided to be kind and we were able to immediately dive once we reached the summit. Many of our initial dives focused on turning a small, cabled substation (junction box) and instruments in the International District Hydrothermal Field…
Read MoreSwells Gallore
The morning of August 17th, was met with much excitement as the R/V Atlantis was scheduled to depart at 0830. The morning was filled with insuring 1) all team members were onboard; 2) all gear was stowed and secured; and 3) that a secondary junction box (benthic experiment platform – BEP), zooplankton sonar, and digital still camera were ready for deployment. With…
Read MoreLeg 1 A Success!
Leg 1 of VISIONS 2025 (completed August 15) was successful in achieving all the planned science objectives, and two recovery dives at the end that were originally scheduled for Leg 2. During the 12 days at sea, the ship went to all Regional Cabled Array sites. The ROV Jason completed 27 dives. All the instrument packages on three Shallow Profiler Moorings were turned,…
Read MoreWind, Waves, Krill, and Seafloor Ice
Working at sea brings unique challenges. The one we commonly experience on RCA cruises is weather, specifically wind and waves. When wind and waves combine, they create swells, groups of waves with an average height and period that can travel long distances. At our sites, the average wave height is usually around 3 to 6…
Read MoreV25 Leg 1 Students’ Reflections on Hydrothermal Vents
On August 8th, we visited the ASHES Hydrothermal Field near the western caldera wall of Axial Seamount. This was the first dive in the caldera of Axial Seamount of VISIONS’25 and a very exciting one for new and old folks alike. Axial Seamount has been under much scrutiny lately due to increased seismic activity and…
Read MoreCalm Seas and Shallow Profilers
It is hard to believe that it has only been four days since the R/V Atlantis left port. So much has happened that it has felt like we have been out much longer. This is due to our around-the-clock operations – there is always something happening and people are always up and working, which also means there…
Read MoreGlobal Surface Mooring Captures R/V Revelle Departure
The Irminger Global Surface Mooring recently recorded a unique view – the R/V Revelle departing from the array site. Captured by the mooring’s camera system, the image provides a rare perspective of ship operations from the vantage point of the mooring itself.
Read MoreAway We Go – Diving Begins
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation for departure on August 4 – all team members arrived onboard the Atlantis at the Newport International Terminal. At ~ 10 am August 5th, the the R/V Atlantis departed Newport bound for the Oregon Offshore site~ 50 miles west of Newport. Looking back on the cruise blog from last…
Read MoreTear-Down Underway as Irminger Team Heads Home
The Irminger #12 team never stops. On the transit back to Reykjavik, with all field deployments and recoveries successfully completed, the OOI Coastal and Global Scale Nodes (CGSN) team turned to the next task: dismantling the Global Surface Mooring. This work prepares the mooring for offload upon arrival and shipment back to Woods Hole Oceanographic…
Read MorePilot Whales Visit the Irminger Array
During the Irminger 12 expedition, the team spotted a group of curious pilot whales near the Irminger Array. The whales approached the area during operations, providing a brief and welcome encounter for those on board. Such sightings add to the experience of working at sea and offer a reminder of the diverse marine life that…
Read More