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MISSION DISPATCH 2 • 07/08/01 Today's Weather - images courtesy of NOAA & RSMAS Dispatch by Heath Mills - Georgia Institute of Technology July 06-07, 2001 The R/V SEWARD JOHNSON relocated from Bush Hill (GC185) to nearby GC234. Both stations are methane hydrates in Green Canyon on the steep continental shelf south of Louisiana. 
Chris Payne from Dr. Joe Montoya's lab at Georgia Tech enters the
JOHNSON SEA-LINK for his first dive, mission dive 4308. The dive is
scheduled for approximately three hours to explore site
GC234. When asked about his research, Chris had this to say. "We (Dr.
Montoya's Lab) are measuring the natural abundance of stable isotopes of
nitrogen (15N) and carbon (13C) in sediments, gas hydrates and organisms
collected near the gas hydrates. We are trying to relate stable isotope
measurement in the water column (nitrate, phytoplankton, zooplankton) to
biological processes in the underlying sediments and gas hydrates."
Photograph by Heath Mills
Dr. Patricia Sobecky from Georgia Tech and Erik Cordes from Chuck Fisher's lab at Penn State examine a fresh grab of Lamellibrachia cf. luyemsi. Erik is collecting these worms for tissue and blood samples. Dr. Fisher's lab will use these samples for population genetics and sulfide binding experiments. Both sites GC185 and GC234 have produced an abundance of tube worms for both sampling and observations. Photograph by Heath Mills While Dr. Ira Leifer examines the video equipment, Sophie De Beukelaer takes 
a second to pose for camera. Ira is a Research Fellow from University of
California at Santa Barbara and Sophie is a graduate student in Dr. Ian
MacDonald's lab at Texas A&M. Dr. Leifer and Dr. MacDonald are collaborating on
research observing the motion and shape of gas and oil bubbles using special
video equipment. Following each dive, the sub's on-board video recordings
are closely examined for the behavior of bubbles in the bubble streams.
These are then compared to predicted sizes and speeds for bubbles of
different known compositions.
Since bottom temperatures hover around 8°C, sample manipulation must occur
inside the environmental room, also know as the cold room. In this
photograph Dr. Antje Boetius, Beth Orcutt, and Jen Fisher (from left to
right) have spent many cold hours floating here in the middle of the Gulf in
the month of July. Dr. Boetius, a visiting scientist from the AWI/MPI, will
be using fluorescent in situ hybridization to examine the eubacterial and
archeal communities in both hydrate and sediment samples. Beth and Jen are
both from Dr. Mandy Joye's lab at the University of Georgia. Their research
includes analysis of sediment and pore water geochemistry and measurements
of methane oxidation and sulfate reduction rates. Photograph by Heath
Mills
One of the main goals of this research cruise is the acquisition of gas hydrates. As this picture shows, we have been successful so far. The two large chucks of hydrate were collected using the sub's mechanical arm and a specially designed hydrate drill. The two metal rods are hydrate cores from a successful drilling. Both sets of samples are being stabilized using a Hydrate Preservation Box designed by Dr. Patricia Sobecky's lab at Georgia Tech. Photograph by Heath Mills 
Oil rigs are the only objects that break up the miles and miles of blue
water. This particular rig is located just off of site GC185. At night,
other bright fires from other rigs can be seen in the distance, marking the
boundary between the dark water and the night sky. Photograph by Heath
Mills
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