The Ocean Census is joining the Schmidt Ocean Institute on its ‘High Seas and Seamounts of the Nazca Ridge’ expedition. This Ocean Census participant expedition will see scientists from the Ocean Census Science Network working alongside the Schmidt Ocean Institute to explore the deep-water regions in the high seas of the Nazca Ridge. Six Ocean Census scientists will join Schmidt Ocean’s R/V Falkor (too) from July 8 – August 9, 2024.
The 8000-meter-deep Atacama Trench, Southeast Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone, and Humboldt Current border these ridges, creating natural barriers that support high levels of marine endemism. From toadfish and amphipods to a Bathyphysa siphonophore, the underwater mountains of the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges make this region unique on Earth.
The Nazca Ridge, off southern Peru’s coast, is a poorly explored seafloor area with rugged terrain, including seamounts, trenches, canyons, and guyots. Many experts in marine protection and policy believe that the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges are a top priority for designation as one of the world’s first high-seas marine protected areas.
The R/V Falkor (too) uses advanced technologies to collect comprehensive seafloor mapping data. The science team will also integrate and test several new pieces of equipment on the ROV SuBastian, including a state-of-the-art channel oxygen logger called a mini Trace analyzer in situ logger, or mTail, a new camera with a 3rd-person view of SuBastian, and new specialized sampling jars.
We will collaborate with our participant scientists and Schmidt Ocean Institute teams to share stories, announcements, and discoveries.
Be sure to follow @oceancensus and @schmidtocean on social media to keep up to date with this fascinating expedition.
ALL Image Credits: Schmidt Ocean Institute