The mystery in the ocean

Scientists at the University of Hawaii (UH) recently announced they had witnessed an unprecedented scene: seeing 30-centimeter stone oysters, giant oysters, craters, mineral towers and others. CO2 bubbles flow into columns from under the ocean volcanoes as if people are throwing champagne.

Research director Alex Malahoff of the Hawaiian Research Laboratory at the HURL (HURL) described the surprise findings of the group to the Star Bulletin during Darwin's five-month journey of origin. The excursion is in a deep dive to survey 13 active underground volcanoes from American Samoa to New Zealand.

Referring to the mass analysis of scientific data collected from unknown craters in ' New Zealand Sea, Fire Belt Survey ' - scientist and expert The scuba diving survey said - ' Now for us it is like starting a new joy. I consider this survey the most important in my whole life, the most remarkable thing is that the trip was successful. nice '.

Countless crabs and oysters can be found in the Monowai crater

From the collected specimens, UH Maqsudul Alam, a microbiologist, identified 27 new bacterial species called extremophile, the bacteria that live in extremely harsh conditions such as geothermal areas and hydrothermally. Pharmaceutical companies and industries are very interested in these microorganisms because of their potential for development of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other new products. Scientists from six research institutes in Germany, New Zealand, Hawaii . surveyed craters (under the ocean) on a route of 1,600 kilometers from Samoa to New Zealand.

Terry Kerby, CEO of HURL and Head of the navigator who conducted pioneering and unprecedented dives, said: ' In 27 years as a diver, I see this is really a moment of pride. most excited. Every dive into the ocean is truly a true survey. Every crater is like hitting our eyes with a truly amazing and interesting landscape . '

The mother ship Ka'imikai-O-Kanaloa left Hawaii on March 18, 2005 with two submarines Pisces 4 and Pisces 5, then returned on August 5, 2005 with scientists calling this tour 1,600 kilometers. is a great success. This international team of scientists collected many specimens to study geology, chemistry, mineral formation, hydrothermal vents and extremophile microorganisms before comparing them to mouths. South Pacific volcano has never surveyed before.

Alex Malahoff chose the year of leave in 2002 at UH to become Executive Director of the Institute of Nuclear Science and Geology in Wellington, New Zealand. He regularly organizes survey dives in collaboration with institutes, research institutions and donors, with a total operating cost of about US $ 3.5 million (the largest of the programs from the Ministry). National Atmosphere and Ocean, and German and New Zealand scientists.

Malahoff believes that this survey is a proof of a ship that has gone beyond its framework in Hawaii, proving that we can do a survey by "zooming out of the southern ocean limit to to the afterlife ". Due to the incalculable dangers of the volcanic terrain first surveyed, two navigators must split up, with each diver surveying an international scientific organization.

Kerby said 18 years of diving at Loihi - a Big Island offshore crater - is a large-scale rehearsal to prepare for an extensive survey dive, first international and multidisciplinary, to the mouths volcanic miles away. He said they have so far completed 61 scientific dives to depths of up to 1,524 meters under the ocean, including 41 dives to virtually unseen craters from small submersibles.

The temperature of the hydrothermal mouth on the Kermadec island belt volcanoes is about 400-600 degrees F. The numerous, superfluous sulfur deposits on the crater help gather vivid life around them, for example they see thousands Shrimp, oysters, mussels . He said that the ocean volcanoes are one of the greatest factors to bring greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, through CO2 (previously thrown into seawater) evaporated.

Researchers believe that craters from Samoa to New Zealand form ' the world's largest natural and underwater underwater laboratory ', capable of replicating similar models on other planets. In October 2005, scientists came together to discuss new findings and will plan for the next survey. HURL Acting Director John Witshire said: ' We have been thinking about revisiting these craters within 3 years, because they are too attractive .'

"The biggest threat that small submarines can encounter is entanglement or fishing nets or cables " said John Witshire - repeating the recent catastrophe of a Russian submarine caught in undersea cables, sewn. are all sailors rescued by British colleagues and unharmed. He said, as expected, the second departure of HURL will prepare its own rescue force.

Le Dao