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Today’s dives were structured the same as
yesterday: coring transects in the morning and laser Raman in the
afternoon. This pattern gives the lab an opportunity to process cores ea We expanded the survey area today around Pinkie’s Vent and located a few isolated patches of chemosynthetic clams and a single live tubeworm away from any of the clam patches. Much of the dive effort this morning involved collecting a large number of short push cores. By collecting core over a broad area around the vent, we will be able to better characterize the origin and amount of methane in the sediment that is fueling the microbial communities just below the sediment surface. Occasionally, clams are collected in the sediment push cores. A portion of the light-colored shell of a Calyptogena sp. clam can be seen in the photo of a push core (see above). |
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You may be wondering why gas hydrate floats
in seawater. Gas hydrate is analogous to water ice, both of which are less
dense than seawater. When gas hydrate forms from methane-rich water, the
water molecules create an expanded cage around a single molecule of
methane, making the solid less dense than liquid water that contains
dissolved methane. The alternate name for hydrate, is clathrate, which is
derived from a Greek word for “claw.” So much for today’s
etymological lesson in arcane scientific terminology. Tonight we have a special treat. An
inspired, but anonymous, scientist on board composed this poetic
description of today’s coring transects. With most humble apologies to
Samuel Coleridge, here it is: As the new dawn unfolded, we caught vague
hints of sulfide-tinged air. This portent spoke the ancient mariners
truth, “Stink in the morn brings cores after dawn, stink after noon
brings sleeplessness soon.” Tracking a transect line from the basin,
crest, and slope of Pinkie’s newly established garden enabled copious
coring opportunities, thus bringing truth once more to the veracity of
sailor’s lore. With seven sets of three push cores, the mud people saw
an active afternoon that settled into the wake of evening with a pod of
pilot whales in lazy confederation passing by. Back at depth over ridge
crest on the slope toward Pinkie’s Garden, all eyes beheld several small
patches of chemosynthetic organisms. In one instance, a solitary tubeworm
of the cold seep kind was spotted behind a lively bed of clams. As quick
as Saint Nick and lickity split, the Tiburon moved to arms length
of tubeworm and collected it whole for all to behold. And in the lab, the
people sensed a cornucopia of mud, the kind that spans a fruitful spectrum
between vintage sulfide and active sludge. What man, what woman could not
find satisfaction in the act of pushing core and squeezing water from the
life-giving matrix? What woman, what man could not find inspiration in the
hope that one day we might know the microbial denizens of this murky
methane jungle? As we push and plunge our way into the mysteries of inky
sea, fall down into the dark recesses of ocean bottom, we cannot remain
impassive, unmoved, devoid of introspection. Even a flamingo can find joy
and self-awareness here. Good night, |