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NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Quick Look Report

Expedition Title: Submarine Ring of Fire 06 (MGLN02MV)

+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Results (please  | Details (please describe any novel discoveries in |
| check all        | the discipline, answers such as "possible,        |
| disciplines in   | awaiting data analysis" and "no apparent          |
| which this       | discoveries" are acceptable)                      |
| cruise collected |                                                   |
| data)            |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Bathymetric      | (please note total area mapped and technology     |
| Mapping          | employed, e.g. multibeam, side scan, etc.)        |
|                  |                                                   |
| X Yes  No       | \(1\) 2717 km of trackline with Sea Beam 2000     |
|                  | Multibeam system (both bathymetry and             |
|                  | backscatter)                                      |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | \(2\) \~18,000 km Sea Beam bathymetry coverage    |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | \(2\) \~ 3 km^2^ High resolution bathymetry with  |
|                  | SM2000 mounted on Jason 2                         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| New Species      | At least 15 including results of 2004 Submarine   |
| Discovered       | Ring of Fire expedition.                          |
|                  |                                                   |
|  Yes  No       |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Bio-prospecting  | (please note number, type, and potential use of   |
|                  | new compounds discovered)                         |
|  Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | Possible, awaiting data analysis                  |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Habitat Range    | (please note species discovered in new habitats   |
| Extended         | and how far from previous range were they found0  |
|                  |                                                   |
|  Yes  No       | Possible, awaiting data analysis                  |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Chemical         | (please note new or unusual chemical properties   |
| Processes        | such as methane seeps, hypersaline pools, vents,  |
|                  | etc. observed)                                    |
| X Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | \(1\) Molten sulfur pools discovered on two       |
|                  | volcanoes. The presence of sulfur in pools, flows |
|                  | and chimneys on these volcanoes appears to be     |
|                  | correlated with enhanced chemosynthetic           |
|                  | productivity                                      |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | \(2\) Documentation and sampling of site of       |
|                  | active submarine volcanic eruption                |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | \(3\) The high flux of CO~2~ on NW Eifuku volcano |
|                  | is a laboratory for studying the effects of       |
|                  | increasing CO~2~ levels on the ocean's biological |
|                  | systems                                           |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Geologic         | (please note new or unusual geologic processes    |
| Processes        | that may impact scientific understanding of the   |
|                  | region)                                           |
| X Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | The dives at NWRota-1 documented, for the first   |
|                  | time, a deep submarine eruption. Dives at Daikoku |
|                  | and Nikko discovered pools of molten sulfur.      |
|                  | These observations will lead to a better          |
|                  | understanding of how arc volcanoes work.          |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Physical         | (please note new or unusual oceanographic         |
| Processes        | processes that may impact scientific              |
|                  | understanding of the region)                      |
| X Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | Dispersion of volcanic material away from         |
|                  | submarine arc volcano from study of CTD data      |
|                  | around NWRota-1                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Sub/ROV/AUV      | (please note name, type, and cumulative hours of  |
| Dives            | bottom time for each platform / if available      |
|                  | please provide average working time per dive for  |
| X Yes  No       | each platform / please note if new depth records  |
|                  | were set)                                         |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | 16 Dives with Jason 2 ROV                         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| New Technology   | (please note any new tools developed for or       |
|                  | during this cruise, also identify first use of an |
| X Yes  No       | existing technology in a new application)         |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | \(1\) Molten sulfur sampler; (2) Jason multiple   |
|                  | chamber suction sampler (1^st^ time use; NSF      |
|                  | funded)                                           |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Maritime         | (please note discoveries impacting knowledge of   |
| Cultural         | the past, i.e. number and type of shipwrecks)     |
| Heritage         |                                                   |
|                  | None                                              |
|  Yes X No       |                                                   |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Outreach         | (please describe outreach channels, e.g. web,     |
|                  | port call, etc., used in this project)            |
| X Yes  No       |                                                   |
|                  | \(1\) OE website (Primary), (2) collaboration     |
|                  | with OSU OE grant for Adult Education Outreach;   |
|                  | (3) Nature - Podcast interview; (4) Extensive     |
|                  | coverage in national/international news media     |
|                  | following the cruise (5) Cruise highlights video  |
|                  | tape delivered to Ocean Exploration Office (Fred  |
|                  | Gorell) for distribution and video clips and      |
|                  | still images served to media on ftp site.         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Students         | (please note the number and level of students on  |
| Involved         | the expedition)                                   |
|                  |                                                   |
| X Yes  No       | 3 students: 1 PhD, 2 Ms.                          |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| M                | (please identify the formal disciplines           |
| ultidisciplinary | represented in the science party)                 |
|                  |                                                   |
| X Yes  No       | Marine Geology, Marine Geophysics, Marine         |
|                  | Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Noble gas       |
|                  | tracers, Economic Geology, Volcanology,           |
|                  | Education, Geochemistry                           |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Exploration of   | (please note if the area of operations had been   |
| New Regions      | previously studied, if so please check no and     |
|                  | approximate as slight, moderate or significant,   |
| X Yes  No       | the level of knowledge before the cruise)         |
|                  |                                                   |
|                  | Some sites had historical dives, either from      |
|                  | Submarine Ring of Fire 04 (ROPOS ROV) and JAMSTEC |
|                  | remotely operated vehicle Hyper-Dolphin or        |
|                  | submersible Shinkai 6500.                         |
+------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

**NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration**

**FY 2004 Expeditions**

**Quick Look Report Required Elements**

**Project title:** Submarine Ring of Fire 06

**Principal Investigator(s) and institution:** Robert W. Embley, Edward
Baker, David A. Butterfield, William W. Chadwick, Jr., John E. Lupton,
Joseph Resing, Julie Huber, Marvin Lilley (UW), Verena Tunnicliffe,
Cornel de Ronde, John Dower, Ko-ichi Nakamura and Bokuichiro Takano,
(see table below for institutions)

**Expedition title:** Submarine Ring of Fire 06

# Expedition dates and itinerary: April 18 to May 13, 2006 from Apra, Guam to Yokohama, Japan

# Chief Scientist and institution: Dr. Robert W. Embley, NOAA/PMEL

# Co-sponsors / partners / participating organizations: (a table of names and affiliations)

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Name                  Nationality   Affiliation
  --------------------- ------------- -------------------------------------
  Bobbitt, Andra        USA           CIMRS/Oregon St. U./ PMEL

  Bolton, Sheryl        USA           U. Washington

  Buck, Nathan          USA           JISAO/U. Washington/PMEL

  Butterfield, David A. USA           JISAO/U U. Washington /PMEL

  Chadwick, William W.  USA           CIMRS/ Oregon St. U./PMEL

  Davis, Rick           USA           Western Washington U.

  de Ronde, Cornel      New Zea.      Institute Geological & Nuclear Sci.,
                                      New Zealand

  Deardorff, Nicolas    USA           U. Oregon

  Dower, John           Canada        U. Victoria, B.C., Canada

  Embley, Robert W.     USA           NOAA/PMEL

  Evans, Leigh          USA           CIMRS/ Oregon St. U. /PMEL

  Greene, Ron           USA           CIMRS/ Oregon St. U./PMEL

  Huber, Julie          USA           Marine Biological Lab, Woods Hole

  Larson, Ben           USA           U. Washington

  Merle, Susan G.       USA           CIMRS/ Oregon St. U./PMEL

  Nakamura, Ko-ichi     Japan         National Institute of Advanced
                                      Industrial Science and Technology,
                                      Japan

  Resing, Joseph        USA           JISAO/U. Washington/PMEL

  Savage, Lori          USA           Rogue Comm. Coll.

  Takano, Bokuichiro    Japan         U. Tokyo

  Tunnicliffe, Verena   Canada        U. Victoria, B.C., Canada

  Walker, Sharon        USA           NOAA/PMEL
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Vessel Identification:** R/V Melville

# Primary Equipment: Jason 2 ROV, Sea Beam mapping system, 3.5 kHz Chirp sonar, ADCP, CTD rosette

**Geographic area of operations**: Mariana Arc, western Pacific

# Summary of Expedition Objectives: Exploration of submarine volcanoes of Mariana Arc and the geologic, chemical and biological characterization thereof.

**Milestones Achieved:** (This section of the report should amplify the
information provided in the official OE cover sheet summary of results.
This section should elaborate on key findings)

\(1\) The ongoing eruption of NWRota-1 volcano (first discovered in
2004) was the highlight (the video taken during our dives here was
broadcast throughout the world in the weeks following our expedition
both on the internet and on various television networks). When we drove
into the crater of Brimstone Pit on April during Dive J2-187, the
activity appeared to have almost ceased, but over the next few days the
action built until it was a full-scale eruption and more active than on
either of our previous two trips, belching glowing lava and sudden
bursts of gas and ash particles that, at times, enveloped the vehicle.
The small hydrophone we deployed nearby recorded the sounds of a
seafloor eruption for the first time concurrent with visual
observations. However, what was perhaps the most amazing part of the
experience was the fact that we could actually observe it! It is
unlikely that a similar eruption on a volcano above sea level could have
been observed and sampled as thoroughly as we did.

The samples and imagery we collected at the site during the dives and on
the CTD lowerings represent a unique data set that will lead to a better
understanding of how submarine arc volcanoes work.

\(2\) The CTD/Rosette system was again successfully used as an
exploration tool during the expedition. Twenty-seven vertical casts and
tow-yos were conducted. In addition to better characterizing the plumes
from known active sites, at least one new active site was found. A small
plume was found near the summit of Ruby volcano which has been a site of
occasional eruptive activity since the 1960s. Dive JS-194 subsequently
discovered a small diffuse hydrothermal system with a unique biota near
its summit.

\(3\) The discovery of a molten sulfur pond on Daikoku Volcano (the
Cauldron) was also extraordinary. Following the first observation of
liquid sulfur pools on Nikko in 2005, this second discovery suggests
that subsurface infiltration of molten sulfur may not be uncommon within
the summits of active arc volcanoes. This was only the second time that
molten sulfur has been observed on the seafloor and the first
observation of a natural sulfur pond.

\(4\) Liquid sulfur pools at Nikko. The first observation of molten
sulfur flows on the seafloor occurred here in November 2005 during the
dives with the JAMSTEC vehicle Hyper-Dolphin (Dr. Ko-ichi Nakamura,
chief scientist). On dive J2-199 discovered a new molten sulfur site
outside the crater (named Naraku). The larger subsurface pool of molten
here was verified when Jason broke through a thin crust and instantly
added 63 pounds to its weight! Nikko's crater and upper flanks supports
what is probably the highest density of chemosynthetic life observed to
date on any seafloor volcano.

\(5\) The gas-rich fluids venting from the summits of Daikoku, Nikko and
other Mariana volcanoes support extensive biological communities. In
addition to the focused and diffuse flow coming directly from the
seafloor fractures there are other processes that can enhance the
biological availability of volatile-rich fluids on arc volcanoes. Local
circulation cells in the waters around a seamount can retain
hydrothermal effluent near its source for significant periods. For
example, enclosed craters (e.g., Nikko), can retain clouds of such
fluids for significant periods, prolonging its availability to animals
such as mussels. There may also be significant biomass fed by very
diffuse, long-term outgassing of hydrogen sulfide from the extensive
sulfur crusts found in places like Nikko and Daikoku that are, in turn,
fed by the subsurface sulfur pools. These processes may give rise to
areally extensive biological communities unique to arc volcanoes.
Examples include the extensive colonies of a new species of tonguefish,
tubeworms and crabs found on three of the northern Mariana submarine
volcanoes, (Minami Kasuga (a.k.a. Kasuga 2), Daikoku, and Nikko), and
the large mussel beds at the NW Eifuku liquid carbon dioxide site.

\(6\) We also explored hydrothermal vents at the summits of four new
sites (Forecast, Seamount X, Esmeralda, and Ruby) and revisited two
other sites discovered in 2004 (NW Eifuku and East Diamante). The
ecosystems at these and the other volcanoes along the arc continue to be
of great interest to biologists. For example, ecosystems associated with
the Mariana backarc spreading center, like Forecast Seamount, are
similar to others in the backarc and have relatively high diversity. In
contrast, the ones associated with the Mariana volcanic arc have a much
lower diversity of species.

\(7\) Several large polymetallic sulfide chimneys were recovered from
the shallow (\~345 m) "smoker" site at the East Diamante volcano. The
active chimney that was recovered is, in itself, a microbial habitat
(the shallowest active chimney of this type yet recovered) that provides
a unique sample suite for studies of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic
microbes. The additional observations and samples from the East Diamante
site is being used to evaluate ore-forming processes at shallow arc
volcanoes.

\(8\) The geological and chemical conditions encountered in the Mariana
Arc present major challenges to living systems, both micro- and
macrobiological. We confirmed the persistence and expansion of animal
populations on an erupting volcano and we observed how hapless pelagic
animals dying in the fumes of three volcanoes provided food for hardy
species on the seafloor. We have discovered over 15 new species
dependent upon the volcanic venue.

\(8\) The mussel beds near the liquid CO~2~ site at NW Eifuku volcano
persist in an extreme environment. Water samples taken there show below
normal ph values and we observed several animals that had recently died
and the shells had almost dissolved but the organic material had not
appreciably decayed. This site could be a useful natural laboratory to
study the effects of decalcification in a high CO~2~ environment.

# Sample log entries: ========== 

# From Daily Report for April 26: "Dive J2-189 at NW Rota came to an end with much excitement.  The dive witnessed an undersea eruption. (Details will be posted on the third OE web log.)  Much of the time on this time was spent video documenting the rapid changes at the caldera."

**Summary of Digital Data Collected:** (Identify volume in MB/GB/TB etc.
and type of data collected. Be as explicit as possible, e.g. identify
high definition video as opposed to simply video.).

CTD (raw data) 7 MB

Multibeam (Sea Beam 2000) 1764 MB

3.5 kHz Chirp Subbottom Sonar 1608 MB

Ship Underway Data (Gravity, ADCP, navigation, meteorological, misc.)
518 MB

Jason ROV (navigation, CTD, attitude, etc.) 35 GB

Jason 2 ROV Video (DVD) 500 GB

**Summary of outreach and educational activities:**

\(1\) Web Logs -15

\(2\) Video Clips 43

\(3\) Numerous interviews and articles written about NWRota-1 eruption
after press release of May 25, including NPR, NBC,

various print and web media. Video clips from eruption site widely shown
on various media.

\(4\) Collaboration with \"NOAA Ocean Exploration Education for Adult
Learners -- A Partnership with the Ocean Sciences and

Math Collaborative Project in Oregon\" (PIs -- Dr. Robert Collier and
Dr. Marta Torres, Oregon State Univ.)

> \- Teacher-at-sea Lori Savage (Rogue Community College, Grants Pass,
> Oregon) was recruited by this
>
> program and participated on cruise.

\(5\) There has also been contact with BBC, Discovery Channel about
upcoming documentaries that will probably use video and other imagery
from this expedition

# 

**Thoughts for the Future:**

**Island arc submarine volcanism is still a frontier area for ocean
exploration:**

We have made significant progress in exploring portions of the two
largest intraoceanic arcs of the western Pacific under OE sponsorship
since 2003. However, there is still much to do in several areas:

\(1\) Basic Exploration: We have made preliminary explorations of 12
hydrothermally active volcanoes in the Mariana Arc and of another 8
volcanoes on the Kermadec Arc. There are still at least 30 more
unexplored active sites on the Mariana, Kermadec, and Tonga Arcs. In
addition, there are also a number of smaller intraoceanic arcs in the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans that have not even been mapped with modern
multibeam systems. Many of the intraoceanic arcs have backarc spreading
centers or rift zones where hydrothermal activity is likely but
exploration is almost nonexistent. For example, the Mariana backarc
spreading center and the northern Lau Basin lack systematic hydrothermal
surveys.

\(2\) Exploration at finer scales: Some of the sites discovered to date
are complex and can only be fully understood with mapping and imaging at
finer scales than possible during initial explorations using standard
hull-mounted multibeam and limited submersibles/ROV observations. In
particular, the sites with large calderas (\>2 km diameter) contain a
long history of hydrothermal and volcanic activity in a geologically
complex setting. In some cases, there may be large mineral deposits at
ancient hydrothermal sites. These sites (e.g., East Diamante in the
Mariana arc and Brothers in the Kermadec arc) must be mapped at much
finer scales using a mapping AUV capable of both sonar and optical
near-bottom mapping so that ROV dives can be targeted productively.
Imagery by AUV's will contribute valuable data to the developing global
perspective of seamounts as centers of biodiversity and productivity.

\(3\) Synoptic and Temporal Exploration: The unique nature of some of
the active sites discovered during this and previous Submarine Ring of
Fire expeditions will require additional visits and some new tools and
techniques to study the volcanic and hydrothermal processes. In
particular, the ongoing eruption at NWRota-1 provides a unique
opportunity to explore linkages between the solid earth, the oceans and
its biotic systems. Synoptic studies using combinations of fixed
moorings on the seafloor and water column, an ROV and an AUV could
provide new insights into how a submarine volcano works. Seismometers
and/or hydrophones could link seismicity and volcanic tremor to changes
in volcanic output from the summit observed by an ROV, and to dispersal
into the ocean recorded by fixed moorings with turbidity and chemical
sensors. AUV surveys could provide a broader synoptic view of changes in
volcanic output around the entire volcano, remapping the summit area at
frequent intervals to document growth and failure of the volcanic cone.

**Summary of Expedition Operations:** See cruise summary map and Tables
attached here.

**Acknowledgments:** The R/V Melville was a superb vessel to conduct the
operations. The shoreside operations group and the ship's personnel were
very professional, competent and helpful. The ship's scientific systems
performed well with very little downtime. The Jason 2 ROV performed very
well and the Jason 2 team accomplished all of the high priority
scientific tasks. They were able to perform scientific tasks at some of
the most extreme environments yet encountered on the seafloor.

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Locations of Jason 2 Dives, Submarine Ring of Fire 06

Table I: Operations Log Submarine Ring of Fire 06 (MGLN02MV)

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Date      **Time   **SRoF\'06 Mariana Arc Cruise -           **Site**    **Event**
  UTC**       UTC**    Objectives / Comments**                               
  ----------- -------- ----------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
                       Guam time was 10 hours ahead of UTC                   

  4/18/2006   0542     Depart Apra Harbor Guam (1542 local, 0542 Guam CNMI   
                       UTC).                                                 

  4/18/2006   0542     Transit from Guam to Seamount X.          Guam to     
                                                                 Seamount X  

  4/18/2006   0927     Collect current sound velocity profile,   transit     XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.                      

                       Sea Beam malfunction on transit to first  transit     
                       dive site at Seamount X. Malfunction. No              
                       data collected. VRU not recorded.                     

  4/18/2006   1017     Deployed transponders A - D               Seamount X  XP

  4/18/2006   1400     Started transponder calibration           Seamount X  XP

  4/18/2006   1900     Finished transponder calibration.         Seamount X  XP

  4/18/2006   2022     Jason in the water to **begin** **dive    Seamount X  J2-184
                       J2-184 Seamount X.** Start of dive is                 
                       engineering trials then on to exploration             
                       of the summit of Seamount X. (Medea                   
                       information logged in virtual van instead             
                       of Jason.) 13 samples: bacterial mat,                 
                       squat lobster, sedimentary rocks, crust               
                       and gastight.                                         

  4/19/2006   0135     Start science part of dive J2-184         Seamount X  J2-184

  4/19/2006   1829     Jason on deck. **End** of **dive          Seamount X  J2-184
                       J2-184.**                                             

  4/19/2006   1945     CTD dip test. Problem with cable?         Seamount X  CTD test
                       \[1945 - 2100 UTC\] Reterminating cable               
                       at 2120 UTC.                                          

  4/20/2006   0500     Transponder recovery complete.            Seamount X  XP

  4/20/2006   0545     CTD dip test - failed. \[0545 - 0600\]                CTD test

  4/20/2006   0620     Sea Beam survey from Seamount X to        Seamount X  Multibeam
                       Forecast. (0620 - 0735 UTC). Tried to     to Forecast 
                       collect 3.5 kHz data but not sure it                  
                       wrote the file.                                       

  4/20/2006   0648     Collect current sound velocity profile,   Seamount X  XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  4/20/2006   0935     Jason in the water to **begin** **dive    Forecast    J2-185
                       J2-185 at Forecast**. Explore                         
                       hydrothermal sites visited by Japanese                
                       researchers. 27 samples: HFS, chimney,                
                       bio - shrimp and snails, gastights,                   
                       majors.                                               

  4/20/2006   2135     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         Forecast    J2-185
                       J2-185** at Forecast.                                 

  4/20/2006   2300     CTD dip test. Failed. Problem with PMEL   Forecast    CTD test
                       fish. \[2300 - 2330 UTC\]                             

  4/20/2006   2359     Sea Beam survey from Forecast to Seamount Forecast to Multibeam
                       W. \[4/20/06 2359 - 4/21/06 \~0145 UTC\]  Seamount W  

  4/21/2996   0200     CTD dip tests. \[0200 - 0320 UTC\]        Seamount W  CTD test

  4/21/2006   0340     Collect current sound velocity profile,   Seamount W  XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  4/21/2006   0345     Sea Beam survey from Seamount W to NW     Seamount W  Multibeam
                       Rota-1. \[4/21/06 0345 - 1250 UTC\]       to NW       
                                                                 Rota-1      

  4/21/2006   1235     Collect current sound velocity profile,   NW Rota-1   XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  4/21/2006   1306     Deployed transponders E - H.              NW Rota-1   XP

  4/21/2006   2000     Finished transponder calibration.         NW Rota-1   XP

  4/21/2006   2000     CTD dip tests. \[2000 - 2130 UTC\]        NW Rota-1   CTD test

  4/21/2006   2220     Jason in the water **begin** **dive       NW Rota-1   J2-186
                       J2-186 at NW Rota-1**. Initial dive at NW             
                       Rota. Find summit and note any changes                
                       from previous years. Deploy hydrophone.               
                       **SM2000**. 5 samples: rocks, crust and               
                       sediments.                                            

  4/22/2006   1022     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-186
                       J2-186** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/22/2006   1109     **T06A-01**:CTD tow from SW-\>NE up flank NW Rota-1   CTD towyo
                       from 2100m, over summit at Brimstone Pit.             
                       \[1109 - 1442 UTC\] SW-\>NE                           

  4/22/2006   1629     **T06A-02**: Continuation of NW Rota tow  NW Rota-1   CTD towyo
                       T06A-01 from summit at Brimstone Pit                  
                       towards NE down flank to \~2100m. First               
                       tow terminated due to potential wire                  
                       entanglement. \[1629 - 1950 UTC\]                     

  4/23/2006   0233     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-187 NW Rota-1   J2-187
                       at NW Rota-1**. Recovery of hydrophone                
                       left on first NW Rota dive. Document                  
                       changes in plume, flow and topography. 35             
                       samples: HFS, gastights, rocks,                       
                       sediments, and niskins.                               

  4/23/2006   1820     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-187
                       J2-187** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/23/2006   2015     Sea Beam survey of entire NW ROTA volcano NW Rota-1   Multibeam
                       to compare with previous data for surface             
                       differencing. \[2015 - \~2230 UTC\]                   

  4/23/2006   2245     **V06A-01**: SW of start of T06A-01 to    NW Rota-1   CTD cast
                       see how far deep particle layers can be               
                       found - flank of the volcano. \[4/23                  
                       2245 - 4/24 0057 UTC\]                                

  4/24/2006   0253     **V06A-02**: SW of V06A-01 - deep         NW Rota-1   CTD cast
                       particle layer absent this far away.                  
                       \[0253 - 0549 UTC\]                                   

  4/24/2006   0807     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-188 NW Rota-1   J2-188
                       at NW Rota-1**. Attempted to collect bio              
                       and mat samples but suction didn\'t work.             
                       12 samples: gastights, majors, rocks,                 
                       niskins, sediment, dead pelagic fishes                
                       and shrimp, Observe and document changes              
                       in activity at Brimstone.                             

  4/24/2006   1407     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-188
                       J2-188** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/24/2006   1500     Sea Beam survey. Adding bathymetric data  Southwest   Multibeam
                       to this area\'s bathymetry coverage.      of NW       
                       Using the 8 hours of ROV downtime before  Rota-1      
                       the next dive. \[1500 - 2123 UTC\]                    

  4/24/2006   2306     Jason in the water to **begin** **dive    NW Rota-1   J2-189
                       J2-189 at NW Rota-1**. Attempted to                   
                       collect bio and mat samples but suction               
                       didn\'t work. Further observations and                
                       video logging of Brimstone. **SM2000**. 8             
                       samples: majors, gastights, niskins,                  
                       sediment, rock.                                       

  4/25/2006   0820     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-189
                       J2-189** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/25/2006   0846     **V06A-03**: over Brimstone Pit (NW       NW Rota-1   CTD cast
                       Rota). \[0846 - 0945 UTC\]                            

  4/25/2006   0950     Sea Beam survey between NW Rota-1 and     NW Rota-1   Multibeam
                       Esmeralda Bank. \[0950 - 1340 UTC\]       to          
                                                                 Esmeralda   

  4/25/2006   1404     **T06A-03**: Esmeralda - tow S-\>N        Esmeralda   CTD towyo
                       through caldera. \[1404 - 1710 UTC\]                  

  4/25/2006   1804     Sea Beam survey. Continue mapping near    Esmeralda   Multibeam
                       Esmerelda Bank until the ROV is ready to              
                       go into the water. \[1804 - 2143 UTC\]                

  4/25/2006   2210     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-190 Esmeralda   J2-190
                       at Esmeralda Bank**. Exploratory dive in              
                       the caldera. Poor visibility. 5 samples:              
                       crust, sediment, mat, 1 crab and rocks.               

  4/26/2006   1332     Jason back on deck. End of dive           Esmeralda   J2-190
                       **J2-190** at Esmeralda Bank.                         

  4/26/2006   1440     Sea Beam survey. Add bathymetric data to  Esmerelda   Multibeam
                       database enroute from Esmeralda Bank back to NW       
                       to NW Rota-1. \[1440 - 2030 UTC\]         Rota-1      

  4/26/2006   2037     **T06A-04**: Map plume changes over NW    NW Rota-1   CTD towyo
                       Rota 1 (perpendicular to T06A-01/T06A-02              
                       line). \[4/26 2037 - 4/27 0011 UTC\]                  
                       NW-\>SE                                               

  4/27/2006   0057     Jason in the water **to begin** **dive    NW Rota-1   J2-191
                       J2-191 at NW Rota-1**. View changes in                
                       activity at Brimstone. Deploy hydrophone              
                       to monitor activity acoustically. 7                   
                       samples: niskins, HFS, mat, shrimp and                
                       pit ejecta samples.                                   

  4/27/2006   0655     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-191
                       J2-191** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/27/2006   0800     Recover transponders E - H. \[0800 - 1030 NW Rota-1   XP
                       UTC\]                                                 

  4/27/2006   1139     **T06A-05**: Tow-yo to observe any        NW Rota-5   CTD towyo
                       hydrothermal plumes over a previously                 
                       unexplored seamount. Winch problems on                
                       this tow. No samples taken. \[1139 - 1355             
                       UTC\]                                                 

  4/27/2006   1432     **V06A-04**: Conduct a vertical cast over NW Rota-5   CTD cast
                       the summit of NW Rota-5 - vertical cast               
                       to fill gap from tow T06A-05. \[1432 -                
                       1530 UTC\]                                            

  4/27/2006   1801     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-192 NW Rota-1   J2-192
                       at NW Rota-1**. \"Red Rock!\" Revisit NW              
                       Rota-1 to further document eruption at                
                       Brimstone pit. Retrieve hydrophone at                 
                       ridge above Brimstone. Explore ridge                  
                       crest along NE side of caldera. 8                     
                       samples: shrimp, rocks, sediment, major               
                       and HFS.                                              

  4/28/2006   0452     Jason back on deck. **End of dive         NW Rota-1   J2-192
                       J2-192** at NW Rota-1.                                

  4/28/2006   0627     **T06A-06**: Repeat of T06A-01 and        NW Rota-1   CTD towyo
                       T06A-02 to look for change in deep                    
                       particle layers. \[0627 - 1123 UTC\]                  

  4/28/2006   1125     Sea Beam survey. Adding to database and   NW Rota-1   Multibeam
                       filling gaps. \[1125 - 1750 UTC\]         to Ruby     

  4/28/2006   1827     **T06A-07**: Conduct CTD tow over Ruby    Ruby        CTD towyo
                       volcano. Have not conducted dives here                
                       yet. \[1827 - 1937 UTC\] SW-\>NE                      

  4/28/2006   2000     Sea Beam survey. Adding to database and   Ruby / East Multibeam
                       filling gaps between Ruby and E Diamante. Diamante    
                       \[2000 - 2154 UTC\]                       area        

  4/28/2006   2243     Jason in the water for to **begin dive    E Diamante  J2-193
                       J2-193 at E Diamante**. Sample chimneys               
                       from Black Forest using elevator for                  
                       recovery. Explore more of the caldera                 
                       cones. 28 samples: chimneys, HFS, rocks,              
                       crust, sponges, worms, snails, barnacles,             
                       limpets, crab and mat.                                

  4/30/2006   0230     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-193 at E Diamante  J2-193
                       E Diamante.                                           

  4/30/2006   0331     Collect current sound velocity profile,   Diamante    XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  4/30/2006   0355     **T06A-08**: Evaluate Middle Diamante for Mid         CTD towyo
                       hydrothermal activity. This volcano has   Diamante    
                       not had a CTD tow conducted on it in the              
                       past. \[0355 - 0622 UTC\] SW-\>NE                     

  4/30/2006   0649     Sea Beam survey. Adding to database and   Mid         Multibeam
                       filling gaps between Mid Diamante and     Diamante to 
                       Ruby. \[0649 - 0727 UTC\]                 Ruby        

  4/30/2006   0857     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-194 Ruby        J2-194
                       at Ruby**, which has a similar structure              
                       as NW Rota-1 but at a shallower depth.                
                       Low-level hydrothermal activity found.                
                       Weird iron oxide vents with small, red                
                       aggressive crabs. 12 samples: rocks,                  
                       majors, sediment, limpets, crab, mat,                 
                       gastights, majors.                                    

  4/30/2006   1805     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-194 at Ruby        J2-194
                       Ruby.                                                 

  4/30/2006   1940     Sea Beam survey. Adding to database and   Ruby to SE  Multibeam
                       filling gaps between Ruby and SE Daikoku. Daikoku     
                       \[4/30 1940 - 5/1 2349 UTC\]                          

  5/1/2006    2356     **T06A-09**: Towyo over SE Daikoku (Small SE Daikoku  CTD towyo
                       seamount to the southeast of Daikoku).                
                       Previously unexplored. \[5/1 2356 - 5/2               
                       0340 UTC\]                                            

  5/2/2006    0528     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-195 Daikoku     J2-195
                       at Daikoku**. Conduct **SM2000**                      
                       bathymetry survey of large summit pit.                
                       Transects to observe and collect flatfish             
                       (tonguefish). Discovered the sulfur                   
                       cauldron. 16 samples: tonguefish,                     
                       sediment, majors, niskins, gastights,                 
                       rocks, small chimneys, molten sulfur on               
                       marker chain.                                         

  5/3/2006    0604     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-195 at Daikoku     J2-195
                       Daikoku.                                              

  5/3/2006    0638     **V06A-05**: CTD vertical cast over       Daikoku     CTD cast
                       sulfur cauldron at Daikoku. \[0638 - 0736             
                       UTC\]                                                 

  5/3/2006    0909     **V06A-06**: CTD vertical cast over the   Daikoku     CTD cast
                       active (smoking) pit. \[0909 - 0953 UTC\]             

  5/3/2006    1005     Sea Beam survey. Fill some small          Daikoku to  Multibeam
                       bathymetry gaps during transit between    Eifuku      
                       dive sites. \[1005 - 1130 UTC\]                       

  5/3/2006    1015     Collect current sound velocity profile,   Daikoku     XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  5/3/2006    1059     Collect current sound velocity profile,   NW Eifuku   XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.          area        

  5/3/2006    1354     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-196 NW Eifuku   J2-196
                       at NW Eifuku**. Navigation was off by                 
                       about 40 m from 2004 locations. HFS                   
                       sampling in area of mussels for CO2                   
                       analysis. 25 samples: HFS, gastights,                 
                       majors, niskins, bio (mussels), small                 
                       chimneys.                                             

  5/4/2006    0538     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-196 at NW Eifuku   J2-196
                       NW Eifuku                                             

  5/4/2006    0619     **T06A-10**: Towyo over Champagne vents.  NW Eifuku   CTD towyo
                       \[0619 - 0905 UTC\] NW-\>SE                           

  5/4/2006    1017     **V06A-07**: Vertical cast. At first      NW Eifuku   CTD cast
                       started as a tow but switched to a cast               
                       due to time constraints. \[1017 - 1156                
                       UTC\]                                                 

  5/4/2006    1409     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-197 Daikoku     J2-197
                       at Daikoku**. More fish transects and                 
                       observations at Sulfur Cauldron. 22                   
                       samples: HFS, gastights, majors, niskins,             
                       rocks, sediment, small broken sulfur                  
                       chimney, flatfish, barnacles, molten                  
                       sulfur in can.                                        

  5/5/2006    0035     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-197 at Daikoku     J2-197
                       Daikoku.                                              

  5/5/2006    0104     **V06A-08**: CTD vertical cast over       Daikoku     CTD cast
                       active pit vertical over active pit (to               
                       test pH sensor, altimeter at new A/D                  
                       channel, sample) \[0104 - 0154 UTC\]                  

  5/5/2006    0442     **T06A-11**: CTD tow-yo over Eifuku       Eifuku      CTD towyo
                       summit. \[0442 - 0730 UTC\] SW-\>NE                   

  5/5/2006    0856     **V06A-09**: Vertical cast over           Eifuku      CTD cast
                       Champagne. \[0856 - 1025 UTC\]                        

  5/5/2006    1205     Sea Beam survey. Map an area southwest of SW of       Multibeam
                       Eifuku while waiting for improvements in  Eifuku to   
                       the weather which are unfavorable for     Nikko       
                       both Jason and the CTD. Eventually broke              
                       off the Eifuku survey to head for Nikko.              
                       Surveyed the transit up to Nikko. \[5/5               
                       1205 - 5/6 1130 UTC\]                                 

  5/5/2006    2259     Collect current sound velocity profile,   W of Eifuku XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.                      

  5/6/2006    1210     **T06A-12**: CTD towyo over the small NE  NE cone on  CTD towyo
                       cone on Nikko volcano. \[1210 - 1339      Nikko       
                       UTC\] SW-\>NE                                         

  5/6/2006             **V06A-10**: CTD cast (north of towyo)    NE cone on  CTD cast
                       over the small NE cone on Nikko volcano.  Nikko       
                       No samples taken. \[1419 - 1436 UTC\]                 

  5/6/2006             **V06A-11**: CTD cast (south of towyo)    NE cone on  CTD cast
                       over the small NE cone on Nikko volcano.  Nikko       
                       \[1519 - 1609 UTC\]                                   

  5/6/2006    1716     Sea Beam survey. Add to bathymetry to     Nikko       Multibeam
                       database around Nikko while waiting for               
                       the weather to subside for dive                       
                       operations. \[1716 - 2342 UTC\]                       

  5/7/2006    0255     **T06A-13**: NE cone at Nikko. \[0255 -   NE cone on  CTD towyo
                       0441 UTC\] SW-\>NE                        Nikko       

  5/7/2006    0544     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-198 Nikko       J2-198
                       at Nikko**. Located and retrieved                     
                       instrument left on previous cruise for                
                       Marv Lilley. Find the sulfur site found               
                       on Japanese cruise. Map the caldera with              
                       the **SM2000**. Explore the caldera and               
                       wall. 9 samples: majors, gastights,                   
                       niskins, rocks, mat, shrimp, flatfish.                

  5/8/2006    0555     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-198 at Nikko       J2-198
                       Nikko.                                                

                       **T06A-14**: Nikko tow over main (SW)     Nikko       CTD towyo
                       cone. \[0706 - 0915 UTC\] SW -\>NE                    

                       **T06A-15**: Cross-tow over main (SW)                 
                       cone. \[1042 - 1243 UTC\] SE -\>NW                    

  5//8/2006   1357     Jason in the water to **begin dive J2-199 Nikko       J2-199
                       at Nikko**. Used the fluid sampler at                 
                       diffuse and high temperature flow sites.              
                       Return to North Vent to sample instrument             
                       recovery site. Explore caldera and summit             
                       slopes. South/southwest of the caldera                
                       rim Jason II broke through the sulfur                 
                       crust and came up with 80 lbs of sulfur               
                       on the vehicle. 27 samples: HFS,                      
                       gastights, niskins, rocks, sulfur rocks               
                       and sulfur scraped off Jason II after the             
                       dive.                                                 

  5/9/2006    0908     Jason back on deck. End of dive J2-199 at Nikko       J2-199
                       Nikko.                                                

                       **V06A-12**: Sample plume above the       Nikko       CTD cast
                       Naraku vent. Main (SW) cone - outside SSW             
                       rim of caldera where Jason got covered                
                       w/sulfur. 1052 - 1143 UTC\]                           

  5/9/2006    1300     Sea Beam survey. Add bathymetry to        Southwest   Multibeam
                       database west and south of Nikko dive     of Nikko    
                       area. \[5/9 1300 - 5/10 0200 UTC\]                    

  5/9/2006    1424     Collect current sound velocity profile,   Nikko       XBT
                       using an XBT, for Sea Beam data.                      

  5/10/2006   0200     Finished operations. Turned of Sea Beam   Nikko area  
                       and 3.5 kHz. Start transit to Japan.                  

  5/13/2006   0000     Docked in Yokohama Japan \~0900 local     Yokohama    
                       time (0000 UTC).                          Japan       
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  -------------------- --------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
  **Table II: Data                                                      
  Summary for                                                           
  Submarine Ring of                                                     
  Fire 2006**                                                           

  **Data Type**        **Total         **Amount   **Amount   **Amount   **Amount
                       Number**        (MB)**     km^2^**    Km.        Hours**
                                                             Track**    

  Jason 2 (J2)         16 Lowerings                                     220
  Lowerings            JS2-484 to 499                                   (Bottom
                                                                        Time)

                                                                        

  J2 Video^1^          120 DVDs        500                              220

                                                                        

  J2 Digital Still     16 Lowerings                                     
  Camera               3451 Total                                       
                       Frames                                           

                                                                        

  J2 Samples,-total    260                                              

                                                                        

  J2 Samples,          62                                               
  Geological                                                            

                                                                        

  J2 Samples,          31 micro and                                     
  Biological           macro)                                           

                                                                        

  J2 Samples (Combined 8                                                
  Biol. & Geol.)                                                        

                                                                        

  J2 Samples,                                                           
  Chemical^2^                                                           

  Jason Water samples  132                                              

  CTD Niskins          377                                              

                                                                        

  Photographs of J2                                                     
  Geological Samples                                                    

                                                                        

  CTD Lowerings        27                                               

                                                                        

  CTD (Sensor data)                    7                                

                                                                        

  CTD (Niskin Bottles  377                                              
  Tripped)                                                              

                                                                        

  Sea Beam 2000                        1764                  2717       239.96
  bathymetry                                                            

                                                                        

  Ship data                            516                              
  (navigation,                                                          
  meteorological,                                                       
  ADCP, Gravity)                                                        

                                                                        

  Chirp Subbottom                      1608                  2717       
  sonar                                                                 

                                                                        

  Gravity (Total                                             2717       
  Field)                                                                

                                                                        

  ^1^Note: Video is                                                     
  from 3-chip Science                                                   
  camera                                                                

  ^2^ Includes water                                                    
  samples                                                               
  -------------------- --------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------