Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Dive Description: This ROV dive will investigate potential hydrothermal venting targets identified from the preceding AUV survey within ITR1. The dive will ground-truth areas where AUV bathymetry, backscatter, water-column observations and environmental data suggest possible active or recent fluid flow. These include local turbidity anomalies, temperature or potential-temperature anomalies, oxygen depletion relative to depth, unusual seafloor backscatter and morphology, flares in water column data, fractures and lineaments. The main scientific objective is to determine whether the mapped anomalies correspond to active hydrothermal venting, diffuse seepage, recently active hydrothermal sites, or altered/mineralised seafloor associated with past fluid circulation. This dive will help test the expedition’s broader hypotheses that fluid flow in the Doldrums Transform system is focused by basement structure, fault damage zones, intra-transform ridge morphology, lithological contrasts, and sediment cover. The dive will prioritise careful visual ground-truthing of the AUV-derived targets while retaining flexibility to follow real-time observations and sensor anomalies. If active venting or strong evidence of hydrothermal discharge is encountered, the dive will focus on detailed imaging, environmental observations, and targeted sampling around the discharge site, adjacent altered areas, and nearby background seafloor.
FKt260517 - The Doldrums Fracture Zone, #Doldrums
More expedition information:
More ROV SuBastian information: schmidtocean.org/technology/robotic-platforms/4500-m-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov
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We livestream our ROV dives on YouTube and Twitch!
Join us on our oceanographic missions on our other social media platforms:
YouTube: youtube.com/SchmidtOcean
Twitch: twitch.tv/schmidtocean
Twitter: twitter.com/SchmidtOcean
Instagram: instagram.com/schmidtocean
Live data feeds from R/V Falkor (too):
🚢 Where's Falkor (too)? https://soi-vessel-tracker.web.app/
🌦️ How's the weather? windy.com/station/ship-zgoj7
Sign up for our newsletter here:
Newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/schmidtocean.org/subscribe
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Schmidt Ocean Institute is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit operating foundation established to advance oceanographic research, discovery, and knowledge, and catalyze sharing of information about the oceans.
Dive Description: This ROV dive will investigate potential hydrothermal venting targets identified from the preceding AUV survey within ITR1. The dive will ground-truth areas where AUV bathymetry, backscatter, water-column observations and environmental data suggest possible active or recent fluid flow. These include local turbidity anomalies, temperature or potential-temperature anomalies, oxygen depletion relative to depth, unusual seafloor backscatter and morphology, flares in water column data, fractures and lineaments. The main scientific objective is to determine whether the mapped anomalies correspond to active hydrothermal venting, diffuse seepage, recently active hydrothermal sites, or altered/mineralised seafloor associated with past fluid circulation. This dive will help test the expedition’s broader hypotheses that fluid flow in the Doldrums Transform system is focused by basement structure, fault damage zones, intra-transform ridge morphology, lithological contrasts, and sediment cover. The dive will prioritise careful visual ground-truthing of the AUV-derived targets while retaining flexibility to follow real-time observations and sensor anomalies. If active venting or strong evidence of hydrothermal discharge is encountered, the dive will focus on detailed imaging, environmental observations, and targeted sampling around the discharge site, adjacent altered areas, and nearby background seafloor.
FKt260517 - The Doldrums Fracture Zone, #Doldrums
More expedition information:
More ROV SuBastian information: schmidtocean.org/technology/robotic-platforms/4500-m-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov
_________
We livestream our ROV dives on YouTube and Twitch!
Join us on our oceanographic missions on our other social media platforms:
YouTube: youtube.com/SchmidtOcean
Twitch: twitch.tv/schmidtocean
Twitter: twitter.com/SchmidtOcean
Instagram: instagram.com/schmidtocean
Live data feeds from R/V Falkor (too):
🚢 Where's Falkor (too)? https://soi-vessel-tracker.web.app/
🌦️ How's the weather? windy.com/station/ship-zgoj7
Sign up for our newsletter here:
Newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/schmidtocean.org/subscribe
_________
Schmidt Ocean Institute is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit operating foundation established to advance oceanographic research, discovery, and knowledge, and catalyze sharing of information about the oceans.
