In March 2024, over 200 earthquakes an hour rattled the Juan de Fuca Ridge of the coast of Vancouver Island.
The B.C. Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) exploration ship Nautilus is going to visit the site for the first time to take a closer look.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e about to embark on the annual maintenance trip of our North-East Pacific Time Undersea Networked Experiment (NEPTUNE) Endeavour observatory,害羞草研究所� said Meghan Paulson, Ocean Network Canada (ONC) expedition lead. 害羞草研究所淭his is an ocean observatory, where we have 100-kilometre loop power and fibre optic cable off the coast of Vancouver Island.害羞草研究所�
The Nautilus will be at sea for 21 days after disembarking from the Canadian Coast Guard docks in North Saanich on June 6. The ship will boast a crew of over 50, including scientists, marine technicians, engineers, and science communicators, and there will be little downtime when out at sea.
害羞草研究所淭here is 24-hour monitoring on an expedition like this, so we want to make every second count,害羞草研究所� said Allison Fundis, chief operating officer, OET. 害羞草研究所淪o we run people through different watch teams, and there害羞草研究所檚 always somebody on watch.害羞草研究所�
The voyage to the Juan de Fuca Ridge will involve maintaining equipment over 2km underwater. The Nautilus will launch remotely operated vehicles, Hercules and Atalanta, that will maintain NEPTUNES害羞草研究所� plethora of sensors, cameras, and instruments at the bottom of the ocean.
害羞草研究所淥ne of the reasons is that the instrument just flat out died, it害羞草研究所檚 not working at all anymore. So that would be a full swap of the instrument,害羞草研究所� Paulson said.
The trip to the ridge will mark the eighth time OET and ONC have collaborated.
害羞草研究所淥ur collaboration allows us to combine our expertise and technologies to tackle challenging operations associated with the maintenance of ONC害羞草研究所檚 world-leading subsea cabled observatory and to broadly share our work and discoveries with those joining us from shore,害羞草研究所� Fundis said.
A 24-hour live stream will allow viewers to ask the various crew and scientists questions.
