more instruments and all the sampled material collected. This was a clever way to
maximize our data collection during each dive. The storage device consisted of a
plastic basket (umbrella basket) with nets of about 2 m in diameter moored at
20 m above the sea floor, equipped with a transponder (12.5 KhZ), plus a weight
to hold the basket contraption on the bottom, and another plastic rope tied to a
large, light-weight foam float which could raise the basket to the surface when it
was full (Fig. 7.19). The transponder had a release mechanism and could be
located by the submersible and the ship. The entire system was called the ‘‘ascenseur’’ (meaning ‘‘lift/elevator’’, in French) because it could be released when
full and dropped back down again to the sea floor, with a new weight to hold it on
the bottom, after it had been emptied.
Water bottles about 40–50 cm in length were made of a titanium alloy and
carbon. They were used for sampling the fluids from the hydrothermal vents. The
bottles or any other instruments were inside their holders and ready to be picked by
the submersible arm once they were on the sea floor. Once used, they could be
returned by the submersible to the ‘‘lift’’ and put back inside the umbrella net.
The hydrological work on board was taken care of by B. Marty and JeanFrançois Minster both from the CNRS, since they were experts on the study of
water and hydrothermal systems. At the time, Jean-François was a young and
bright scientist who had graduated from a prestigious Polytechnic school in Paris
and was working at IPG (Institut de physique du Globe). He was eager to see the
hot smokers as was everyone else on board. His dive took place on the ridge axis at
2608 meters depth (dive Cy82-26) on February 20, 1982. Marty dove (Cy82-32)
Fig. 7.19 The storage device invented for the IFREMER Cyatherm cruise of 1982 consisted of a
plastic basket, also called an umbrella basket, made with a net about 2 m in diameter and moored
20 m above the sea floor, equipped with a transponder (12.5 KhZ), plus a weight to hold the
basket on the sea floor bottom. The basket’s weight could be released from the surface, and the
basket and its contents would be recovered by the ship. (Photo courtesy IFREMER, Cyatherm
1982, Dive Cy82-17)
Cyana Dives on the EPR at 12°50
0 N
215
maximize our data collection during each dive. The storage device consisted of a
plastic basket (umbrella basket) with nets of about 2 m in diameter moored at
20 m above the sea floor, equipped with a transponder (12.5 KhZ), plus a weight
to hold the basket contraption on the bottom, and another plastic rope tied to a
large, light-weight foam float which could raise the basket to the surface when it
was full (Fig. 7.19). The transponder had a release mechanism and could be
located by the submersible and the ship. The entire system was called the ‘‘ascenseur’’ (meaning ‘‘lift/elevator’’, in French) because it could be released when
full and dropped back down again to the sea floor, with a new weight to hold it on
the bottom, after it had been emptied.
Water bottles about 40–50 cm in length were made of a titanium alloy and
carbon. They were used for sampling the fluids from the hydrothermal vents. The
bottles or any other instruments were inside their holders and ready to be picked by
the submersible arm once they were on the sea floor. Once used, they could be
returned by the submersible to the ‘‘lift’’ and put back inside the umbrella net.
The hydrological work on board was taken care of by B. Marty and JeanFrançois Minster both from the CNRS, since they were experts on the study of
water and hydrothermal systems. At the time, Jean-François was a young and
bright scientist who had graduated from a prestigious Polytechnic school in Paris
and was working at IPG (Institut de physique du Globe). He was eager to see the
hot smokers as was everyone else on board. His dive took place on the ridge axis at
2608 meters depth (dive Cy82-26) on February 20, 1982. Marty dove (Cy82-32)
Fig. 7.19 The storage device invented for the IFREMER Cyatherm cruise of 1982 consisted of a
plastic basket, also called an umbrella basket, made with a net about 2 m in diameter and moored
20 m above the sea floor, equipped with a transponder (12.5 KhZ), plus a weight to hold the
basket on the sea floor bottom. The basket’s weight could be released from the surface, and the
basket and its contents would be recovered by the ship. (Photo courtesy IFREMER, Cyatherm
1982, Dive Cy82-17)
Cyana Dives on the EPR at 12°50
0 N
215