Northeast U.S. Canyons Exploration - EX 1304 Leg 1
The first leg of the 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition explored diverse habitats and geological settings of the deep canyons region off the Northeast United States. The remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer (ROV D2) completed 16 dives to depths ranging from 500 to 2,200 meters. D2 surveyed four major submarine canyons, including Block, Alvin, Atlantis, and Hydrographer; one unnamed minor canyon; three priority sites considered to be geohazard areas; and three potential (and confirmed) hydrocarbon seep areas.
Submarine Canyons
Exploration of the canyons revealed that they are likely more dynamic, both geologically and biologically, than previously thought and that each canyon may have its own signature geological and biological character over the depths examined. Rock morphology and size differed widely among many dives.
Initial impressions of this exploration also reveal these canyons to be hotspots for biodiversity, hosting more than 25 species of corals; more than seven species of sponges; more than 30 species of fishes; and dozens of crustacean, cephalopod, and echinoderm species. Notable were the numerous faunal range extensions, including several species of crabs and corals.
While exploration of this deep-water canyon system revealed that the community structure of benthic fauna was related to both depth and substrate type, wall failures and breaches were recognized as having a high potential for yielding unstable habitat for the establishment of hard-bottom communities.
USGS Geohazard Sites
The ROV visited three sites prioritized by the U.S. Geological Survey to examine the geological formation, character, and potential instability of the seafloor to estimate relative timing of landslide events and determine whether these areas pose a hazard to tsunami generation. Information gathered during ROV dives will be used to test hypotheses about the evolution of the features in the region and the potential for marine geological hazards.
Hydrocarbon Seeps
The ROV also surveyed three water column anomalies (bubble streams rising from the seafloor) to determine if methane and associated chemosynthetic communities were present. These exploratory dives revealed living chemosynthetic communities, e.g., beds of Bathymodiolus mussels, which hosted at least 10 species, including gastropod snails, polychaete worms, and shrimp associated with hydrocarbon seepage. Two of the dives imaged methane bubbling directly through sediments on the seafloor and also methane hydrates, confirming that the processes that lock methane into ice occur in canyon areas in this region of the Atlantic.
USGS Hazard 3
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 9, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1880.0 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 14 Minutes 50 Seconds |
The purpose of this proposed dive is to investigate headwall scarps of a large landslide scar on the lower continental slope. The scientific rationale for this site is:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 738 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 137 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 38 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 45.3 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.27 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 3.5 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 210 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
USGS Hazard 4
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 10, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 608 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 51 Minutes 50 Seconds |
The purpose of this proposed dive is to investigate pockmarks on the upper continental slope between 500 and 650 m water depth directly above the headwall scarp of a landslide. The scientific rationale for this site is to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 808 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 246 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 23.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 52.8 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.21 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 3.6 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 302 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
New England Seep 3
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 11, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1139 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 11 Minutes 5 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to investigate 4 potential seep sites that were identified based on bubbles plumes seen during 2012 multibeam mapping on the Okeanos explorer. The primary purpose of the dive was to determine if there are methane seeps within the region and to describe both their geology (vigor and extent of seepage, distribution of authigenic carbonates, relationship of seeps to seafloor geology) and their ecology (community structure, distribution of live and dead animals, similarity to faunal assemblages at Veatch seep).
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 1 MB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 184 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 36.9 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 48.64 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.45 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.2 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 260 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
New England Seep 2
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 12, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1476.1 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 4 Minutes 21 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to investigate 4 potential seep sites that were identified based on bubble plumes seen during recent multibeam mapping by the Okeanos Explorer including 3 targets that were identified the night before. The primary purpose of the dive was to determine if there are methane seeps within the region and to describe both their geology (vigor and extent of seepage, distribution of authigenic carbonates, relationship of seeps to seafloor geology and their ecology (community structure, distribution of live and dead animals).
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 730 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 162 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 21.1 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 48.4 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.29 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.9 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 226 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Hydrographer Canyon Mid 1
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 13, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1422.7 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 44 Minutes 51 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to explore for deep-sea corals (DSC), DSC associates, and other deep-water benthic and mobile fauna such as sponges, fishes and crabs. This was considered a mid-depth dive (~1500-900 m). An additional goal of this dive was to groundtruth a model that predicted the occurrence of DSC associated with slopes >36 degrees.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 779 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 162 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 41.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 49 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.39 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 5.3 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 313 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Hydrographer Canyon Shallow 2
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 14, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 908.3 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 51 Minutes 27 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to explore for deep-sea corals (DSC), DSC associates, and other deep-water benthic and mobile fauna such as sponges, fishes and crabs. This was considered a shallow-depth dive (~900-600 m). An additional goal of this dive was to groundtruth a model that predicted the occurrence of DSC associated with slopes >36 degrees.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 736 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 214 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 44.8 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 57.7 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.32 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.7 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 320 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Atlantis Canyon Mid 1
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 15, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1105.6 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 54 Minutes 32 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to characterize submarine canyon geomorphology and characterize benthic habitats in Atlantis Canyon, possibly including deep-sea coral and sponges. This was considered a mid-depth dive (~1100-900 m). An additional goal of this dive was to groundtruth a model that predicted the occurrence of deep-sea corals associated with slopes >36 degrees.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 814 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 203 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 25.6 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 58.7 MB) | Download | |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 497 KB) | Download | |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 5.2 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 351 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Atlantis Deep
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 16, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1793.9 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 47 Minutes 42 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 701 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 165 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 37.8 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 78 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.63 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.8 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 275 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Alvin Canyon Shallow 1
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 17, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 926.9 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 47 Minutes 27 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 789 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 153 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 40.4 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 45 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 3.98 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.6 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 894 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Alvin Canyon Mid 2
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 18, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1109.6 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 37 Minutes 44 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 717 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 198 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 39.4 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 31 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.25 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 5.5 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 447 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Block Canyon Mid 2
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 19, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1351 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 42 Minutes |
The purpose of the dive was to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 744 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 154 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 37.8 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 38.2 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.14 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 5.2 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 424 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
USGS Hazard 3
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 20, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 2026.9 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 5 Hours 46 Minutes 11 Seconds |
The purpose of this proposed dive is to investigate the transition (marked by the red dashed line on the map) from canyon processes to landslide deposition within Veatch Canyon to establish relative timing of the landslide event. The Veatch Canyon landslide breaches the eastern levee of Veatch Canyon and deposits debris within the canyon, blocking the normal sediment transport pathway. If Veatch Canyon is still active, the landslide may be relatively young (Recent), but if Veatch Canyon has been inactive since the LGM, the landslide may be late Pleistocene in age.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 729 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 84 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 37.8 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 23.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.46 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.9 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 311 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
New England Seep 1
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 21, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1423.2 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 53 Minutes 30 Seconds |
An engineering dive discovered live mussel beds (some with juveniles), extensive dead mussel debris (with methane bubbling), bacterial mats, carbonates, and other indicators of chemosynthetic activity. Our 21 Jul 2013 dive purpose was to resurvey this area, particularly the southern portion that was only documented for moments before recovery of the ROV during the engineering dive. Dive objectives included imaging with lasers, to get estimates of the sizes of the mussels, associated fauna, and rate of bubble ascent from seafloor for at least 1 min. Another objective included groundtruthing a new water column anomaly that was detected by multibeam sonar on the 20th of July.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 1 MB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 191 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 26.9 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 35.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 5.31 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 4.8 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 329 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Block Canyon Deep
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 22, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 2135.2 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 4 Hours 46 Minutes 36 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to explore a deep portion of Block Canyon and describe the geomorphology and biological communities along the east wall at a depth of ~2000 m.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 304 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 122 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 42.1 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 31.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 3.91 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 3.1 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 315 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Block Canyon Deep
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 23, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1137.7 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 6 Hours 45 Minutes 38 Seconds |
The purpose of the dive was to:
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 728 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 196 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 24.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 41.5 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Camera Sled CTD/Sensor Data (Zip - 4.29 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 7.7 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 373 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |
Block Canyon Deep
Northeast U.S. Canyons
Date: | July 24, 2013 |
Max Depth: | 1121.1 Meters |
Bottom Time: | 4 Hours 20 Minutes 37 Seconds |
The purpose of this dive was to describe the geomorphology and benthic communities of both east and west walls in a minor canyon, site named Gauntlet Minor, to a depth of ~1100-1000 m.
Dive Summary Report (PDF - 620 KB) | View/Download | Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Dive Summary Report |
Dive Track (KML - 180 KB) | View/Download | Requires Google Earth or equivalent client to view the Dive Track |
ROV Ancillary Data (Zip - 36.1 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Trailer (MOV - 77.9 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Low-Resolution Video Clips (Zip - 5.5 GB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Underwater Still Images (Zip - 260 MB) | Download | Note: Link takes you to a public FTP server |
Dive Video Collection Self-Service Portal | Open | Note: Link takes you to an online video discovery and access tool |