The National Science Foundation Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Regional Cabled Array (NSF-OOI RCA) is an underwater cabled observatory that extends 480 km off the coast of Newport, Oregon, USA and is run by the University of Washington’s (UW) School of Oceanography and Applied Physics Laboratory. The Regional Cabled Array streams real-time data to scientists on the geological, oceanographic and biological processes spanning the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate, including those contributing to the productive coastal systems and underwater volcanism off the coast of Oregon. Servicing of the array is achieved through NSF’s VISIONS expeditions, which provide a venue for UW student experiential learning and scientific outreach initiatives.

Read more: NSF-OOI RCA and ROPOS Long-Term International Collaboration

From March 18 – May 10, 2023, 6 CSSF team members supported the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), which works in partnership with the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The science team’s focus was to conduct research on the hydrothermal vents of the Central Indian Ridge. There were two main objectives for this expedition: 1) to understand the environmental characteristics of the hydrothermal vents and analyze the structure and function of the surrounding ecosystem, as well as 2) to investigate the characteristics of mineral resources formed by hydrothermal activity. The expedition focused on geology but also included some biology. Tasks that required ROPOS included collection of video footage along with biological and bedrock samples.

Read more: KIOST’s 2023 Indian Ocean Expedition

From August 9 – September 15, 2022, 8 CSSF team members performed maintenance and installation on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) Regional Cabled Array (RCA) for the University of Washington (UW) aboard the UW’s R/V Thomas G. Thompson as part of the VISIONS ’22 expedition. The science team was largely from the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography, with one member from Gray’s Harbour College, and the engineering team was largely from the UW’s Applied Physics Laboratory, with one member from Oregon State University. Guest participants were from the UW, the University of St. Andrews, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Carleton College and the University of Bremen.

Read more: NSF VISIONS ‘22 Expedition