Exploring the Deepest Depths: A Novel Light-Tethered Hybrid ROV for Global Science in Extreme Enviroments

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

The world's oceans below 6,500 meters are presently virtually unexplored. These diverse and inaccessible tectonic regimes pose significant questions about a wide range of fundamental problems in the earth and ocean sciences. These regimes include deep areas of active continental margins where major earthquakes are generated and hydrologic exchange occurs between subducted oceanic lithosphere and island arc complexes. Deep access to the seafloor in areas of ultra-slow spreading mid ocean ridges, primarily found in geographic regions of inhospitable weather or ice covered ocean (e.g. Arctic), would be a primary use for such a vehicle. The capability to routinely access the deepest ocean depths also has important implications for a broad range of science and engineering associated with ocean observatory and event response research that will explore 3D and 4D multidisciplinary problems for decades to come. Hybrid ROVs will enable the scientific community to quickly react to ocean floor volcanic and hydrothermal events from a wide range of UNOLS vessels, whereby follow-on experiments can be designed and implemented based on detailed, first-order mapping and sampling conducted by the 11,000 meter HROV. Moreover, the HROV will provide the United States with fully global capability for search, survey, and recovery missions of national strategic importance. ***