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SEAS: Student Experiments At Sea

Deep-sea technology: present and future

There follows a 2-column table. The first column contains a picture. The second contains descriptive text.

The manned deep-sea submersible Alvin

Image courtesy of M. Spear, Alvin pilot

Initial discoveries

Hydrothermal vent animals were discovered in the late 1970's during a research cruise to investigate geologic and tectonic processes along the Galapagos Rift. At that time, scientists used a towed camera system called Angus, followed by the submersible Alvin. The scientists on that cruise (all geologists!) were very surprised to find large aggregations of bizarre animals at the vents.

It's not easy to find hydrothermal vents, or to collect animals for further study.