This video features a live Q&A session with the Ocean Exploration Trust's team aboard the E/V Nautilus during the Luʻuaeaahikiikapāpā expedition, funded by the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute. Hosted by Megan Cook, the event connects viewers with Expedition Lead Allison Fundus and Lead Scientist Dr. Adam Soule as they conduct the first ROV dive on an unexplored seamount chain south of Hawaii. The team discusses the expedition's primary goals: characterizing the geology and biology of these ancient seamounts, determining their age and origin, and studying the valuable iron-manganese crusts that coat them. The conversation covers live observations from the seafloor, the scientific methods used for rock analysis, the importance of seafloor mapping, the societal implications of their research for resource management and bioprospecting, and pathways for aspiring explorers to get involved in the field.
Exploring Uncharted Seamounts: A Live Q&A with the E/V Nautilus Crew
0:00:52 Introduction to the Expedition: Host Megan Cook welcomes viewers to a live chat for the Luʻuaeaahikiikapāpā expedition, which explores volcanic ridges in the Central Pacific to understand their geological history and resident biology.
0:03:44 Live from the E/V Nautilus: The team is on their first ROV dive, exploring a previously unvisited seamount. Expedition Lead Allison Fundus and Lead Scientist Dr. Adam Soule join the conversation from the ship.
0:04:50 Prime Exploration Zone: The expedition is located in the Mid-Pacific Mountains, an area known as the "prime crust zone." The seamounts here are ancient (estimated 114 million years old) and covered in iron-manganese crusts rich in rare metals like cobalt.
0:08:56 A View of the Seafloor: Viewers see a live feed from the ROV as it ascends the seamount, observing basaltic rock covered with manganese crust that provides a habitat for deep-sea life, including sponges and bamboo corals.
0:12:44 Reading the Rocks: Dr. Soule explains how geologists analyze not just the rocks themselves (like pillow lavas), but also surrounding features like sediment ripples, which indicate current patterns and help build a complete picture of the deep-sea environment.
0:16:25 Key Scientific Questions: A major goal is to determine the origin and age of the seamounts. By analyzing rock chemistry and using radiometric dating, scientists hope to learn if they are part of the 100-million-year-old Mid-Pacific Mountains or the much younger Hawaiian chain.
0:17:47 From Seafloor to Lab: Samples collected by the ROV are described on the ship, but detailed analysis occurs in labs ashore. All samples are made publicly available through national repositories to support future research.
0:19:19 The Importance of Mapping: The team uses bathymetric maps to plan their ROV dives effectively. While some maps existed for the area, the expedition is filling in data gaps to create a more complete picture of the underwater landscape.
0:25:07 Societal Impact of Exploration: The research provides critical baseline data on deep-sea ecosystems and geology. This information is vital for future conservation efforts, policymaking, and understanding the potential for sustainable resource extraction (rare metals for green tech) and bioprospecting (new compounds for medicine).
0:27:46 How to Become an Explorer: The team advises young people to follow live expeditions, pursue STEM education, and explore the diverse career paths available in ocean science. They highlight the Ocean Exploration Trust's internship programs and online career resources as great starting points.
0:30:30 Favorite Discoveries: Dr. Soule recounts discovering minivan-sized blocks of pumice from an underwater volcano, while Allison Fundus shares her work characterizing the first known repeat eruption at a mid-ocean ridge.
0:32:42 What to Expect Next: The expedition will continue exploring, with the team anticipating more discoveries of beautiful deep-sea corals, sponges, and potentially new species.