ROV Dive S0470 - Auka Vent Field

Join ROV SuBastian from the RV Falkor for the ninth dive of the Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Pescadero Basin expedition. This is the first dive of the third leg, primarily focused on the biological component. The Auka Vent Field in the South Pescadero Basin consists of eight large edifices and several small hydrothermal features spanning 600 m in a south to north orientation. Auka was discovered during a 2015 MBARI expedition when Mapping AUV surveys revealed apparent vent features and subsequent ROV dives confirmed active venting with carbonate dominated chimneys and edifices. This dive has five primary objectives: (1) collect rock samples for microbial community and activity analyses from Matterhorn (2) sample animals at Matterhorn and in the surrounding area (3) obtain combined ti-major and gas tight vent fluid samples from the Matterhorn vent, (4) deploy colonization rings at top of Matterhorn and (5) collect push cores and corresponding temperature profiles near Matterhorn and from the mound