From the Deep Sea to Europa
When Nereus is operating in ROV mode during Leg 2, the manipulator mounted on front of the vehicle will be used to collect sulfide and...
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Leighton Rolley, SOI
Homeward Bound
We’re all done. Nereus has been safely recovered in board from the last dive, the last CTD is complete and the cable greased. We’re now...
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Chris German
Collapsing Under The Pressure
Saturday June 29th was an epic day. Also among the 4 top traumatic experiences I have ever had at sea with a robot. (All of...
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Chris German
To Infinity and Beyond
Getting close to the end now and not a moment too soon, apparently – because today I completely lost my marbles. Let me explain. Last...
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Chris German
Deep Sea Driving School
Another great dive today to Von Damm. We didn’t dive until 6am but happily that gave Casey and the rest of the Nereus team plenty...
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Chris German
Mostly Armless
A very solid dive today but also a very short blog because it is premature to know what to write just yet. We launched at...
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Chris German
Redemption Song
One of my NSF program managers sent me a message today saying that our live broadcasts could do with better music. Unfortunately, Jeremy (ETO and...
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Chris German
Transformers
Nereus underwent a major conversion in the past few days – actually more than one, which proved to be a little ambitious. When you sawNereus...
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Chris German
A Triumph for Texan Engineering
Science seriously progressed today. It didn’t come easy but maybe that just makes it all the sweeter. Our launch was text-book just after 4am and...
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Chris German
Perseverance
Science progressed today. But it didn’t come quietly. Last night I realized that if I was sending Blog 28 ashore then I must have been...
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Chris German
International Superstar
Today wasn’t our best day for Telepresence, I’m afraid – but fortunately, we had international help to cover for us, not more than 20 miles away...
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Chris German
Character Building
When I was growing up, my older brother Tim used to enjoy explaining how any adverse conditions that you lived through could be ascribed to...
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Chris German
Becalmed in Vent-Infested Waters
Today was a taxing day. Late on Wednesday it became apparent that our test of the winch that we use to lower the depressor vehicle...
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Chris German
Scurvy Dogs and Sad Departures
Very short blog today. Woke up for breakfast and leaped straight into action working with Leighton who then worked with Captain Heiko and Lars to...
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Jill McDermott
This is Our Art
Did you miss us? Yesterday was a very cool day. I woke up at 4am to the sound of the ship slowing to a halt...
MoreFather’s Day (in some countries)
Today is our transit day to Jamaica and last night our clocks went back to put us on Jamaica time (which, bizarrely, is East of...
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WHOI
Go Big or Go Home
Today’s out last day with the AUV and we have a cunning plan to end our exploration days with. Up at 3:15 to watch the...
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Chris German
Nereus With Attitude
Like all good things, Leg 1 of our expedition must come to an end. But fear not, as Winston Churchill once said: this is not...
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Chris German
Refrigerator Art
When I was little, I remember spending hours listening to my Grandad’s tales of life on the ocean when he was a young man. I...
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Chris German
Mind, He Doesn’t Get Out Much
Suddenly, the whole ship seems to have its groove on and science is really clicking. By deciding to focus on our shallowest site, we are...
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Chris German
Lars & the Real Gannet
Another good day today. I was up at 5am to join in with a CTD cast designed to land right over the hottest chimneys that...
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Jill McDermott, WHOI-MIT Joint Program
Sunday Race Day
Hello there. Did you miss me? I’m afraid I have been feeling rather disoriented. Last night (or was it the night before) I was having...
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Google Earth, Chris German
A Big Blue Ball
If you are reading this on the day it is posted, then know this: Today, June 8th, is World Oceans Day. What’s so special about...
MoreTechnical Difficulties
We apologize for the interruption to Chris German’s blog from R/V Falkor. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
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Chris German
Winnie the Pooh and the Uncarved Block
Lots to tell you about today. We started off with a CTD coming on deck from the furthest north point we have been to (and...
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Chris German
Silent Running
Today has been a quiet day but we’ve been making steady progress. The first CTD cast started at 4am and the last of the day...
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Paul "Jimbo" Duncan, SOI
Some days seem longer than others
A busy day today but also a strange one. I was woken just after 5am by a feeling in my bones – quite literally, actually:...
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Chris German
Sometimes you eat the dive…
Up early again today for our first Nereus dive in earnest, heading down to 2250m at the top of Mt Dent, just West of the...
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Chris German
Virus Alert
I have a cold. Yuk. I suspect I am not alone and given that there are about 50 of us all living close in one...
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Chris German
First Salt!
Today was a good day. Even before our 7:00 am kick-off meeting on the Bridge, Leighton, Nathan and Jimbo from the Falkor together with Ko-ichi...
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Chris German
Catch and Release…
No, wait – the other one: Release then Catch!!! Today was the day that we finally set sail. Up early for a start-the-day meeting with...
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Chris German
No backing out now!
At some point, whenever you are a chief scientist, there is a moment when you suddenly realize that the focus is about to be all...
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Chris German
Getting Ready
Today was a quiet but busy day. All the scientists had arrived by the end of Monday and all the remaining science gear showed up...
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Chris German
Memorial Day
We had a rather quiet day on the ship today with all the Nereus team members working away at getting Nereus further prepared for departure....
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Chris German
Mobilization
While our cruise doesn’t set sail until Thursday, and most of the science team are not due here until Tuesday, there has been plenty going...
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