A Photo Album from the Alvin Submersible

The view from Astoria, Oregon before the RV Atlantis, with the Alvin submersible on board, departed on September 7, 2009.

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Close-up view of the Alvin submersible

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Dr. Susan Avery and Dr. Timothy Killeen boarding Alvin on September 8, 2009

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Biological creatures in the water column outside Alvin as it descends to the sea floor

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen
These microbial "mats," on the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean, live off of methane gas released from seismic activity in the region
Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Alvin's arm inserted a set of core sampling cylinders into the soft sediments next to the ghostly white microbial mats.

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

These cylinders were used to collect samples from the microbial mats on the sea floor.

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Alvin has a robotic arm that was used to pick up snails from the sea floor

Image courtesy of Tim Killeen

Divers prepare to snag Alvin on its return to the ocean surface.

Image Courtesy of Tim Killeen

Alvin is loaded back on board the RV Atlantis after the dive.

Image Courtesy of Carlye Calvin

Postcards from the Field: Alvin

Last modified September 15, 2009 by Becca Hatheway.

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Planning for the Dive

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The Journey to the Ocean Floor

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Searching for Microbial Mats

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