DOCSLIB.ORG

Dive Europa: a Search-For-Life Initiative

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dive Europa: a Search-For-Life Initiative Biological Sciences in Space, Vol.12 No.2(1998) Biological Sciences in Space, Vol. 12 No. 2 (1998): 126-130 © 1998 Jpn. Soc Biol. Sci. Space Dive Europa: A Search-for-Life Initiative Takeshi Naganuma1,2 and Hirohiko Uematsu3 1 Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, 739-8528 Japan E-mail: [email protected] 2 Deep Sea Research Department, Japan Marine Science & Technology Center 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, 237-0061 Japan 3 Office of Space Utilization Systems, National Space Development Agency of Japan 2-1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, 305-8505 Japan ABSTRACT Liquid water, underwater volcanoes and possibly life forms have been suggested to be present beneath the estimated 10 km-thick ice shell of Europa, the Jovian satellite J2. Europa’s possible ocean is estimated to be 100-200 km deep. Despite the great depth of the Europa’s ocean, hydrostatic pressure at the seafloor would be 130-260 MPa, corresponding to 13-26 km depth of a theoretical Earth’s ocean. The hydrostatic pressure is not beyond the edge of existing deep-sea technology. Here we propose exploration of Europa’s deep-sea by the use of current technologies, taking a symbolic example of a deep submergence vehicle Shinkai 6500 which dives to a depth of 6.5 km deep (50 km depth of Europa’s ocean). Shinkai 6500 is embarkable in the payload bay of the Space Shuttles in terms of size and weight for the transportation to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Secondary boost is needed for interplanetary flight from the LEO.On-orbit as- sembly of the secondary booster is a technological challenge. The International Space Station (ISS) and ISS-related technologies will facilitate the secondary boost. Also, ice shell drilling is a challenge and is needed before the dive into Europa’s ocean. These challenges should be overcome during a certain leading time for matured experience in the ISS operation. KEYWORDS: Europa, Hydrothermal vent, Deep-sea diving, Submersible, Drilling LIFE ON EUROPA? 7. Outer margins of the fractures are diffuse, suggesting liquid water venting from the fractures6, 8. Subsurface liquid Why Europa? is also suggested by non-synchronous rotation of Europa9. Europa, the Jovian satellite J2, is thought to have both The ice shell and possible water layer is estimated to be an ocean and hydrothermal vents. It has been more and total 100-200 km thick10. The lower part of the shell is more convincingly postulated that liquid water is present presumed to be geothermally heated, which could result in beneath the Europa’s ice shell1, 2. Occurrence of melting the lower ice shell. Europa’s volcanism is strongly hydrothermal vents, which is very suggestive of the suggested by the active volcanism of Io, the Jovian satellite presence of life3, is also eagerly discussed4, 5. Arthur C. J14, 11. Jupiter’s tidal force influences the Io’s magmatism, Clarke is one of the advocators for the life on Europa and and the same is assumed for the case of Europa. As a result, he included this idea in his popular novel 2010: Odyssey Europa is presumed to have a liquid water layer between Two as early as in 1982. Other than Clarke, many believe the outer ice shell and the rocky interior. that it would be in Europa’s ocean that extraterrestrial life The ice shell and water layer are estimated to be a total is first discovered. of 100-200 km thick (Table 1)10. Even the lowest estimation Europa’s surface is covered with an ice shell which of 100 km thick is 10 times larger than the maximum depth shows characteristic band-like fractures and iceberg drifts6, of the Earth’s ocean. However, hydrostatic pressures will not be proportionally high, as Europa’s gravity (1.3 m s-2) is 13% of the Earth’s gravity (9.8 m s-2). Hydrostatic pressure at 100-200 km deep in Europa’s ocean will be ca. Received 6 September, 1998 130-260 MPa, which is equivalent to 13-26 km deep in the Earth’s ocean. Higher values are possible, assuming higher *Address correspondence to: Takeshi Naganuma density of Europa’s seawater, although the chemical [email protected] composition is not yet known. － 126 － Naganuma & Uematsu Table 1. Earth and Europa. Comparison of physical parameters. Earth Europa Distance from the Sun 1 AU (1.5 x 1011 m) 5.2 AU (7.8 x 1011 m) Mass 6.0 x 1024 kg 4.8 x 1022 kg Radius 6.4 x 106 m 1.6 x 106 m Gravity 9.8 m s-2 1.3 m s-2 Depth of Ocean Average 3.8 km 100-200 km? (Existing/Presumed) Maximum 11 km (Ice shell 5-10 km?) Maximum hydrostatic pressure 110 MPa 130-260 MPa? Being optimistic, diving to the Europa’s seafloor is Photolytic O2-supply from H2O is possible at least to worth considering. Existing deep-sea technology such as the distance of the giant planet, Jupiter. Occurrence of deep submergence vehicles (DSVs) and remotely operated atmospheric O2, though tenuous, has been reported from vehicles (ROVs) may overcome the high hydrostatic three outer Galilean satellites: Europa, Ganymede and pressure of Europa’s ocean. For example, the manned DSV Callisto13, 14. This does not lead directly to the presence of 2- Shinkai 6500 is able to dive down to a depth of 6.5 km in dissolved O2 in the Europa’s ocean, however, SO4 and - - the Earth’s ocean, equivalent to about 50 km depth in NO3 are probably present and may serve as O-donors (e - Europa’s ocean. There is a safety margin for the maximum acceptors). On the other hand, H2-supply, either volcanic diving depth. From a purely technical point of view, Shinkai or photosynthetic, seems to be rather limited, and only a 6500’s maximum diving depth, at least for the pressure few planets and satellites are thought to have or to have hull, is >10 km on Earth12 and >76 km on Europa. Other had volcanic activities. Therefore the key to the occurrence subsystems of Shinkai 6500 may not necessarily hold such of life lies in the occurrence of volcanism on water-bearing pressure resistance. The deeper part of the Europa’s ocean planets and satellites such as Earth and Europa. could be surveyed by ROVs such as Kaiko, which dives to Mars is thought to have had its plate tectonics and ocean a depth of 11 km of the Earth’s ocean (83 km on Europa) in the past, and the possibility of early life forms on the during normal operations. It should be noted that the DSV past Mars has been a focus of discussion. It is not the Shinkai 6500 and the ROV Kaiko are not necessarily meant intention of this manuscript to argue about past Martian to be delivered to Europa; they are only taken as symbolic life. Instead, it should be pointed out that the possibility of examples to demonstrate that existing technology seems present Martian life is rather low, because Mars is too small to be sufficiently applicable for the exploration of Europa’s to retain a substantial atmosphere with liquid water and to seafloor. This exploration will be not merely an exapnsion develop its plate/plume tectonics (crustal magamatism has of human being’s reach but also a search-for-life on other played an important role in the Martian volcanism)4, 15. planets and satelites, as Europa is likely to have an ocean, Thus, Mars lacks a substantial source of H2-supply. Venus seafloor hydrothermal vents, and life forms. is also known to have mantle plumes and volcanisms4, 16. However, Venus is thought to have developed neither plate Water and volcanoes: Sources of e--donors and e-- tectonics nor the associated hydrothermal vents due to the acceptors absence of liquid water. Venus’ orbit is inside of the If a life form is a build-up of CHON compounds, life is habitable zone17, and the atmospheric temperature is too regarded as the transient between the oxidized end (CO2, high to keep H O liquid. Europa, in contrast, is likely to + + 2 NO3 ) and the reduced end (CH4, NH4 ) of CHON have both liquid water and continued volcanism. transformation. For this, as well as the presence of liquid H2O, sources for oxidation and reduction of CHON- compounds are essential for life. In the Earth’s biosphere, Habitability sources of CHON-oxidation (e--acceptors) are 1) Distance from the Sun, size (mass) and presence of magnetosphere are the factors to determine the habitability photolytical and photosynthetic release of O2 from H2O, 2- - of planets and satellites18. Distance determines the heat 2) O-atoms in SO4 (via sulfate reduction), NO3 (via nitrate flux from the Sun, and the Earth’s orbit is within the reduction) and CO2 (methanogenesis), and 3) organics (e.g., humics) and metal atoms such as Fe and Mn. On the other habitable zone of 0.95-1.15 AU where liquid water could hand, sources of CHON-reduction (e--donors) are 1) be present17. Size is the factor controlling that a planet or + satellite is able to retain both volatiles and volcanoes for photosynthetic release of H 2 (in the form of NADPH ) billions of years. A planet or satellite having >0.07 times from H2O and 2) geo-/hydrothermal (i.e., volcanic) supply the mass of the Earth could retain nitrogen and oxygen for of H2 from the Earth’s interior. － 127 － Biological Sciences in Space, Vol.12 No.2(1998) over 4.5 Gyr 18.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Prokaryotes Exposed to Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure - Daniel Prieur
    EXTREMOPHILES – Vol. III - Piezophily: Prokaryotes Exposed to Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure - Daniel Prieur PIEZOPHILY: PROKARYOTES EXPOSED TO ELEVATED HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE Daniel Prieur Université de Bretagne occidentale, Plouzané, France. Keywords: archea, bacteria, deep biosphere, deep sea, Europa, exobiology, hydrothermal vents, hydrostatic pressure, hyperthermophile, Mars, oil reservoirs, prokaryote. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Deep-Sea Microbiology 2.1. A Brief History 2.2. Deep-Sea Psychrophiles 2.2.1. General Features 2.2.2. Adaptations to Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure 2.3. Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents 2.3.1. Deep-Sea Hyperthermophiles 2.3.2. Responses to Hydrostatic Pressure 3. Other Natural Environments Exposed to Hydrostatic Pressure 3.1. Deep Marine Sediments 3.2. Deep Oil Reservoirs 3.3. Deep Rocks and Aquifers 3.4. Sub-Antarctic Lakes 4. Other Worlds 4.1. Mars 4.2. Europa 5. Conclusions Acknowledgements Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketch SummaryUNESCO – EOLSS All living organisms, and particularly prokaryotes, which colonize the most extreme environments, SAMPLEhave their physiology cont rolledCHAPTERS by a variety of physicochemical parameters whose different values contribute to the definition of biotopes. Hydrostatic pressure is one of the major parameters influencing life, but its importance is limited to only some environments, especially the deep sea. If the deep sea is defined as water layers below one kilometer depth, this amount of water, which is exposed to pressures up to 100 MPa, represents 62% of the volume of the total Earth biosphere. A rather small numbers of investigators have studied the prokaryotes that, alongside invertebrates and vertebrates, inhabit this extreme environment. Deep-sea prokaryotes show different levels of adaptation to elevated hydrostatic pressure, from the barosensitive organisms to the obligate piezophiles.
    [Show full text]
  • 2007 MTS Overview of Manned Underwater Vehicle Activity
    P A P E R 2007 MTS Overview of Manned Underwater Vehicle Activity AUTHOR ABSTRACT William Kohnen There are approximately 100 active manned submersibles in operation around the world; Chair, MTS Manned Underwater in this overview we refer to all non-military manned underwater vehicles that are used for Vehicles Committee scientific, research, tourism, and commercial diving applications, as well as personal leisure SEAmagine Hydrospace Corporation craft. The Marine Technology Society committee on Manned Underwater Vehicles (MUV) maintains the only comprehensive database of active submersibles operating around the world and endeavors to continually bring together the international community of manned Introduction submersible operators, manufacturers and industry professionals. The database is maintained he year 2007 did not herald a great through contact with manufacturers, operators and owners through the Manned Submersible number of new manned submersible de- program held yearly at the Underwater Intervention conference. Tployments, although the industry has expe- The most comprehensive and detailed overview of this industry is given during the UI rienced significant momentum. Submersi- conference, and this article cannot cover all developments within the allocated space; there- bles continue to find new applications in fore our focus is on a compendium of activity provided from the most dynamic submersible tourism, science and research, commercial builders, operators and research organizations that contribute to the industry and who share and recreational work; the biggest progress their latest information through the MTS committee. This article presents a short overview coming from the least likely source, namely of submersible activity in 2007, including new submersible construction, operation and the leisure markets.
    [Show full text]
  • American Samoa)* Dawn J
    Seafloor Mapping and GIS Coordination at America’s Remotest National Marine Sanctuary (American Samoa)* Dawn J. Wright Department of Geosciences Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon, USA Brian T. Donahue and David F. Naar Center for Coastal Ocean Mapping University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Florida, USA Abstract Currently there are thirteen sites in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System that protect over 18,000 square miles of American coastal waters. Coral reefs are a particular concern at several of these sites, as reefs are now recognized as being among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, as well as the most endangered. The smallest, remotest, and least explored site is the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) in American Samoa, the only true tropical coral reef in the sanctuary system. Until recently it was largely unexplored below depths of ~30 m, with no comprehensive documentation of the plants, animals, and submarine topography. Indeed, virtually nothing is known of shelf-edge (50-120 m deep) coral reef habitats throughout the world, and no inventory of benthic-associated species exists. This chapter presents the results of: (1) recent multibeam bathymetric surveys in April-May, 2001, to obtain complete topographic coverage of the deepest parts of FBNMS, as well as other sites around the island of Tutuila; and (2) efforts to integrate these and other baseline data into a GIS to facilitate future management decisions and research directions within the sanctuary. Introduction In 1972, amidst rising coastal development, pollution, and marine species nearing extinction, the National Marine Sanctuary System was created to protect ecological, historical, and aesthetic resources within vital areas of U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • REUNION2013 Tricontinental Scientific Meeting on Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
    REUNION2013 Tricontinental Scientific Meeting on Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Organised by EUBS, SPUMS, SAUHMA and ARESUB www.reunion2013.org Tamarun Conference Centre, La Saline‐les‐Bains St.Gilles, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean September 22–29, 2013 Organising Committee Scientific Committee Drs JJ Brandt Corstius, The Netherlands Assoc Prof M Bennett, Australia (Scott Haldane Foundation) Prof C Balestra, Belgium Dr J‐D Harms, La Réunion (ARESUB) Prof A Brubakk, Norway Dr P Germonpré, Belgium (EUBS) Dr C D’Andrea, La Réunion Dr K Richardson, Australia (SPUMS) Assoc Prof M Davis, New Zealand Dr J Rosenthal, South Africa (SAUHMA) Prof J Meintjes, South Africa Dr M Sayer, United Kingdom TIME Sunday 22nd Monday 23rd Tuesday 24th Wednesday 25th Conference Diving Other Conference Diving Other Conference Other Conference Diving Other 08:00 to 08:30 Registration Registration 08:30 to 08:40 2 dives 2 dives Opening ceremony 2 dives 08:40 to 09:00 (package) (package) IDAN Meeting Richard Fitzpatrick open all morning (package) 09:00 to 09:20 DAN (Private) 09:20 to 09:40 Port of HIRA Meeting Port of Session 1 Port of IDAN Meeting 09:40 to 10:00 St.Gilles (Private) St.Gilles Diving Medicine St.Gilles (Private) 10:00 to 10:20 10:20 to 10:40 COFFEE - TEA (until 15:20) 10:40 to 11:00 COFFEE - TEA Session 2 11:00 to 11:20 Hyperbaric Conference 11:20 to 11:40 Oxygen Therapy 11:40 to 12:00 12:00 to 12:20 12:20 to 13:00 LUNCH 13:00 to 13:30 13:30 to 14:00 Jacek Kot 14:00 to 14:20 ARESUB Session 3 EDTC Medical 14:20 to 14:40 Scientific IDAN Meeting Diving
    [Show full text]
  • TAG SALE!!! 4 Days for the Price of 3! ^^7, 643“E711 NOW! Ujaurli^Htrr Hrralji
    1 I U — MANCHESTER HERALD. Wedncgday. Aug. 19. 1987 Rampage: No motive in British murders / page 7 LowQxygen: Tens * ★ TAG SALE!!! ★ ★ of thousands of Relief: Yanks’ Hudson blanks Mariners / page 9 dead fish / page 5 4 Days for the Price of 3! ^^7, ‘ PLACE YOUR AD ON TUESDAY, BEFORE NOON, AND YOU’RE ALL SET FOR THE WEEK. JUST ASK FOR TRACEY OR IRENE IN CLASSIFIED. ROOMS APARTMENTS m m m m rn CARS CARS FOR RENT FOR RENT RNI8ALE FOR SALE UJaurli^Htrr HrralJi I ) Manchester — A City of Village ROOMS, Male or Female. PRIVATE townhouse In 4V,' .V C h a r m Centrally located. Kit­ wooded setting, large DmECTW FAIRMONT woffon 7i. MERCURY Lynx 1981. 4 chen privlleoes. Reaso­ deck, 2 bedrooms, IVb V-8, automatic. Very door wagon, 38,000 ffood condition. 82000/ mligs. stgrgo. $2200. nable. Apply at 39 Cot­ baths, lots of closets. Thursday, Aug. 20,1987 tage Street, between Fully equipped kit­ best offer. 646-3590 af­ 646-3094.____________ 9-4.______________ chen, basement, wa- ter 4. VW Doshgr 1970. A-1 con­ 30 Cents ROOM tor non smoking sher/drver hookups •*» A Y . ID totes, trweldnE. CHRYSLER Newport dition. $1500. 647-0741. gentleman preferred. $800. Includes heat/hot schoRl^^hfi Horn* rw iri. Yoii VINYL IS FINAL custom 1967. 73k origi­ PLYMOUTH 1 9 il water. 647-7411 after 5. i jUM HIBJKn m iV I Q u nal miles. Must be Air conditioned, kit­ Sfwhy^l^nghMthewl. Chomp. Good condi­ chen privlleoes, wa- MANCHESTER. Central, ‘ OftmpMe home iM tini end re­ seen.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Level Change
    Sea Level Change Outline Causes of sea level change Temporal (time) scales of sea level changes Climate-related sealevel change and oxygen isotope stages Eustatic and relative sea levels Evidence of sealevel change Sedimentary records of sealevel changes Causes of sea level change Why does the sea level change? Changes in the relative volumes of seawater and polar ice caps and ice sheets a) Formation and melting of ice caps e.g., if Antarctic ice cap and Greenland ice sheets melted completely the sealevel would rise 60-80 m. b) Thermal expansion of seawater 10ºC increase in seawater temperature would cause 10 m increase in sea level These processes are a function of climate: external earth process Changes in the volume of ocean basins containing seawater The ocean basins changing in size and shape: Increase in length of the ocean ridges and rate of seafloor spreading would decrease the volume of ocean basins, causing a sealevel rise. The main process is Plate Tectonics (internal forces) Temporal scale of sea level change Sealevel fluctuations occur on time scales of: Millions of years Thousands of years Diurnal variations: Tides and weather Tides: Diurnal variations is the result of gravitational attraction between Earth, Moon, Sun and rotation of Earth. The times and amplitude of tides at a locale are influenced by: • Alignment of Sun and Moon, • Pattern of tides in the deep ocean • The amphidromic (zero amplitude) systems of the oceans creating waves, tidal currents • The shape of the coastline and near-shore bathymetry Tides Neap tides occur during quarter Moon Spring tides occur during full and new Moon Tidal amplitude Mid-spring range: 14.5 m Extreme range: 16.3 m Amphidromic system and points These occur because of the Coriolis effect and interference within oceanic basins, seas and bays creating a wave pattern Tide amplitude indicated by color.
    [Show full text]
  • ISHOF 2019 Yearbook
    The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) and universities, 28 prep schools, 28 clubs and over 600 Tmuseum opened its doors to the public in December of 1968 swimmers for holiday training. Fort Lauderdale soon became in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That same year, the Fédération a hotbed for swimmers. Internationale de Natation (FINA) - the governing body for Olympic aquatic sports – designated the ISHOF museum as SCAA’s idea of creating a Swimming Hall of Fame became the "Official Repository for Aquatic History". In 2018, Cso strong, that in 1962 Mayor Burry of Fort Lauderdale, the Sports Publications Inc., publisher of Swimming World entire city commission, 30 civic leaders, and even Florida’s Magazine and its multi-media platforms, merged with Governor Farris all threw their support behind the idea. The ISHOF to expand the museum’s reach and impact. Today, Mayor went so far as to create a “Mayor’s Swimming Hall of ISHOF is the global focal point for recording and sharing the Fame Citizen’s Committee”. Support was so overwhelming history of aquatics, promoting swimming as an essential that the Amateur Athletic Union voted unanimously to select life-skill, and developing educational programs and events Fort Lauderdale as the first home for a Swimming Hall of Fame related to water sports. over bids from Louisville and Houston at its annual convention on November 27, 1962 in Detroit. he ISHOF 2019 Yearbook is dedicated to the College TSwimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and he adjoining aquatic facility was completed in August of its founding leaders for having the idea to approach the City T1965 at a cost of $986,000.
    [Show full text]
  • Under High Pressure: Spherical Glass Flotation and Instrument Housings in Deep Ocean Research
    PAPER Under High Pressure: Spherical Glass Flotation and Instrument Housings in Deep Ocean Research AUTHORS ABSTRACT Steffen Pausch All stationary and autonomous instrumentation for observational activities in Nautilus Marine Service GmbH ocean research have two things in common, they need pressure-resistant housings Detlef Below and buoyancy to bring instruments safely back to the surface. The use of glass DURAN Group GmbH spheres is attractive in many ways. Glass qualities such as the immense strength– weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and low cost make glass spheres ideal for both Kevin Hardy flotation and instrument housings. On the other hand, glass is brittle and hence DeepSea Power & Light subject to damage from impact. The production of glass spheres therefore requires high-quality raw material, advanced manufacturing technology and expertise in Introduction processing. VITROVEX® spheres made of DURAN® borosilicate glass 3.3 are the hen Jacques Piccard and Don only commercially available 17-inch glass spheres with operational ratings to full Walsh reached the Marianas Trench ocean trench depth. They provide a low-cost option for specialized flotation and W instrument housings. in1960andreportedshrimpand flounder-like fish, it was proven that Keywords: Buoyancy, Flotation, Instrument housings, Pressure, Spheres, Trench, there is life even in the very deepest VITROVEX® parts of the ocean. What started as a simple search for life has become over (1) they need to have pressure- the years a search for answers to basic Advantages and resistant housings to accommodate questions such as the number of spe- Disadvantages sensitive electronics, and (2) they need cies, their distribution ranges, and the of Glass Spheres either positive buoyancy to bring the composition of the fauna.
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioural Observations of the Cephalopod Vulcanoctopus Hydrothermalis
    Cah. Biol. Mar. (2002) 43 : 299-302 Behavioural observations of the cephalopod Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis Francisco ROCHA1*, Ángel F. GONZÁLEZ1, Michel SEGONZAC2, and Ángel GUERRA1 (1) ECOBIOMAR. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC). Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain. (2) IFREMER/EP-CENTOB, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané Cedex, France. * Corresponding author: Fax: (34) 986 29 27 62. E-mail: [email protected] Introduction Material and methods The hydrothermal vent ecosystem is inhabited by poorly The French manned submersible “Nautile” filmed several known species of deep-sea octopuses (Lutz & Voight, specimens of Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis in their natural 1994). Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis González & Guerra, environment associated with high temperature hydrothermal 1998, is the only described cephalopod from a hydrothermal vent in the East Pacific Rise (12°48.43’N-103°56.41’W; vent (González et al., 1998). Little is known about this small 2600 to 2650 m depth). Observations were carried out benthic octopus, up to 35 mm mantle length, with a during the French cruise “HOPE 99” (7 April to 22 May, muscular and semi-translucent body, lack of any type of 1999) on board of the R/V l’Atalante and organized by the chromatic elements in the skin and eye with no trace of an CNRS and IFREMER (URM7), Chief Scientist François Lallier. A total of 26 dives were undertaken on ten active iris (González et al., 1998). Its morphology was studied by hydrothermal vents. The video camera used was a Sony González et al. (in press) but there have been no behavioural DXC 755 fixed on the submersible Nautile, with a Canon studies of this species to date.
    [Show full text]
  • Developing Submergence Science for the Next Decade (DESCEND–2016)
    Developing Submergence Science for the Next Decade (DESCEND–2016) Workshop Proceedings January 14-15, 2016 ii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 1 BENTHIC ECOSYSTEMS ........................................................................................................... 11 COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS .......................................................................................................... 24 PELAGIC ECOSYSTEMS ........................................................................................................... 28 POLAR SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................... 31 BIOGEOCHEMISTRY ............................................................................................................... 41 ECOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ................................................................................... 48 GEOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. 53 PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 59 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 65 Appendix
    [Show full text]
  • GNM Silent Killers.Qxd:Layout 1
    “A truly engrossing chronicle.” Clive Cussler JAMES P. DELGADO SILENT KILLERS SUBMARINES AND UNDERWATER WARFARE FOREWORD BY CLIVE CUSSLER © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com SUBMARINES AND UNDERWATER WARFARE JAMES P. DELGADO With a foreword by Clive Cussler © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS Foreword 6 Author’s Note 7 Introduction: Into the Deep 11 Chapter 1 Beginnings 19 Chapter 2 “Sub Marine Explorers”: Would-be Warriors 31 Chapter 3 Uncivil Warriors 45 Chapter 4 Missing Links 61 Chapter 5 Later 19th Century Submarines 73 Chapter 6 Transition to a New Century 91 Chapter 7 Early 20th Century Submariness 107 Chapter 8 World War I 123 Chapter 9 Submarines Between the Wars 143 Chapter 10 World War II: the Success of the Submarine 161 Chapter 11 Postwar Innovations: the Rise of Atomic Power 189 Chapter 12 The Ultimate Deterrent: the Role of the 207 Submarine in the Modern Era Chapter 13 Memorializing the Submarine 219 Notes 239 Sources & Select Bibliography 248 Index 260 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com FOREWORD rom the beginning of recorded history the inhabitants of the earth have had a Fgreat fascination with what exists under the waters of lakes, rivers, and the vast seas. They also have maintained a great fear of the unknown and very few wished to actually go under the surface. In the not too distant past, they had a morbid fear and were deeply frightened of what they might find. Only three out of one hundred old-time sailors could swim because they had no love of water.
    [Show full text]
  • American Samoa)* Dawn J
    http://dusk2.geo.orst.edu/djl/samoa/FBNMS_GISreprint.pdf Seafloor Mapping and GIS Coordination at America’s Remotest National Marine Sanctuary (American Samoa)* Dawn J. Wright Department of Geosciences Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon, USA Brian T. Donahue and David F. Naar Center for Coastal Ocean Mapping University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Florida, USA Abstract Currently there are thirteen sites in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System that protect over 18,000 square miles of American coastal waters. Coral reefs are a particular concern at several of these sites, as reefs are now recognized as being among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, as well as the most endangered. The smallest, remotest, and least explored site is the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) in American Samoa, the only true tropical coral reef in the sanctuary system. Until recently it was largely unexplored below depths of ~30 m, with no comprehensive documentation of the plants, animals, and submarine topography. Indeed, virtually nothing is known of shelf-edge (50-120 m deep) coral reef habitats throughout the world, and no inventory of benthic-associated species exists. This chapter presents the results of: (1) recent multibeam bathymetric surveys in April-May, 2001, to obtain complete topographic coverage of the deepest parts of FBNMS, as well as other sites around the island of Tutuila; and (2) efforts to integrate these and other baseline data into a GIS to facilitate future management decisions and research directions within the sanctuary. Introduction In 1972, amidst rising coastal development, pollution, and marine species nearing extinction, the National Marine Sanctuary System was created to protect ecological, historical, and aesthetic resources within vital areas of U.S.
    [Show full text]