|
 
|
Axial 1998
|
This is one
of those fabulous sites where the alien, nightmare geology is as
captivating as the exotic biota. This is a place that adds whole
new dimensions to the concept of 'life on the edge'. In the never-ending
dark, under tremendous physical pressure, life forms rivaling anything
in science fiction endure temperatures from zero to hundreds of
degrees Celsius; and here at Axial, the constant threat of inundation
in molten rock.
|
|
|
|
From what
we've seen so far there's been a fair amount of inundating going
on since we were here last. ROPOS cruised back and forth for hours
over an area where the science team were sure there were fields
of tubeworms. "Are you sure we're in the right place?",
they kept asking. Our long baseline navigation capability is really
'top drawer' so we knew what the biologists were reluctant to
concede: field of dreams '96 was now field of fresh lava '98.
|
|
One of the
principal objectives of this trip was to quantify the depth and
extent of the fresh lava flows associated with the January eruption.
An Imagenex scanning sonar was fitted to ROPOS to acquire new, high-resolution
bathymetric data in conjunction with video and still camera imagery.
The landscape has been significantly altered.
|
 |
The full story, pictures
and narratives can be found at the New
Millennium Observatory site.
|
|
