a
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a-frame
A crane on the stern of the Atlantis used to deploy the Alvin from the ship by using a winch.
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Alvin
A manned deep ocean research submersible owned by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Alvin dives to the sea floor to collect images and samples from the deep sea. Alvin can collect igneous samples as well as other types. See http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/subs/alvin/alvin.html for more detailed information.
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R/V Atlantis
A general-purpose ship (research vessel - R/V - owned by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). See http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/vessels/atlantis/atlantis.html for more detailed information.
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b
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bacteria
Microscopic single-celled organisms belonging to the kingdom Monera. Like all monerans, they lack a nucleus and other internal structural subdividision. They feed by absorption , photosynthesis, or chemosynthesis. They are one of the groups of organisms responsible for the breakdown of organic material (decomposition and rotting) and play an important role in the nitrogen cycle.
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bow
The front of a ship or vessel.
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c
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chemosynthesis
Primary production of organic matter, using energy stored inorganic substances such as hydrogen sulfide. Energy is released when particular organisms oxidize these substances. In contrast, see photosynthesis.
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co-chief scientitst
A scientist sharing the status of chief scientist with one or more other scientists.
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cold seeps
Cold seeps are sites of fluid release from the sea floor, due to various causes including artesian flow and processes producing sediment compaction. Due to the chemical content of the seeping fluids, these areas are often associated with specialized biological communities. In contrast, see hydrothermal vent.
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community
Refers to all the populations of interacting species found in a specific area or region at a certain time.
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continental lithosphere
A section of lithosphere capped by continental crust.
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d
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distribution
1. How things are arranged in space (spatial distribution) or time (temporal distribution).
2. The geographic occurrence or range of an organism.
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e
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earthquake
A disturbance within the Earth's crust or mantle (lithosphere), caused by the sudden rupture or repositioning of rocks as they release stress. The disturbance propagates outwards from the point or origin (focus) as mechanical waves. Earthquakes can be triggered by faulting or volcanic activity.
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erosion
The process of wearing down. Important natural agents of erosion include water, wind, and ice.
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f
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fault
A plane of breakage in rock where blocks of rock on either side of the break have been displaced. The three major types of faults are normal, reverse, and strike-slip.
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fishery
1. The industry or occupation devoted to the catching, processing, or selling of fish, shellfish, or other aquatic animals.
2. A place where fish or other aquatic animals are caught. For example, the area offshore Peru is a rich fishing area called the Peruvian Anchoveta.
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fjord
A deep narrow estuary in a valley originally eroded by a glacier. The valley is often U-shaped due to its glacial origins. These valleys are often inundated due to the rise in sea level after the last glaciation. They are steep because they have not had much time to erode.
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flux meter
A device that measures fluid flow between a substrate such as sediment and the overlying water column. For example, a flux meter can be used to measure fluid flow from accretionary prisms.
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g
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glacial period
Any period of time during which glaciers covered a significant part of the earth's surface. The last glacial maximum occurred just 20,000 years ago.
Glacial extent diagram.
Light gray areas indicate ice coverage over North America at 18,000 radiocarbon years ago.
This image was obtained from the Internet at
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/projects/qen/nercNORTHAMERICA.html. [April 25, 2001]
Adams J.M. (1997).
Global land environments since the last interglacial.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN, USA.
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/ern/qen/nerc.html
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graduate school
The level of college or university education beyond receiving a bachelor's degree (undergraduate degree).
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h
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hydrogen sulfide
A colorless, flammable poisonous gas, H2S, having a characteristic rotten-egg odor.. H2S is commonly found in poorly oxygenated marine and terrestrial environments. In these environments, sulfur-reducing bacteria derive energy by converting sulfate to H2S. The same process may occur in home plumbing systems.
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hydrothermal vents
Sites in the deep ocean floor where hot, H2S -rich water is released from geothermally heated rock. Typically, hydrothermal vents are associated with seafloor spreading systems.
Image courtesy of Deborah Kelley
The grey earthen mass underneath the red organisms (hydrothermal vent community) is the hydrothermal vent. Note the plume of hot gas shooting from the vent.
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hydrothermal vent communities
The communities (populations of interacting species) associated with hydrothermal vent environments.
Image courtesy of Deborah Kelley
The red organisms covering the grey hydrothermal vent are an example of a hydrothermal vent community.
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i
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there are no entries for this letter
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j
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jet lag
A temporary disruption of bodily rhythms caused by high-speed travel across several time zones typically in a jet aircraft.
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k
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Kodiak-Bowie seamount chain
A chain of marine volcanoes extending across the eastern Gulf of Alaska in a northwest-southeast direction. Their origin may be linked to hotspot activity.
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l
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lithosphere
The layer of the earth distinguished by its rigid behavior between the surface and ~100 km below the surface of the earth. The crust and part of the mantle are contained within the lithosphere. Rigid materials are not permanently deformed by stresses imparted by pushing, pulling or the burden of weights; however, they may break. Individual plates may move laterally on the Earth's surface.
Layers of the Earth Flash
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m
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methane
CH4 - An odorless, colorless gas naturally produced through anaerobic bacterial decomposition of plant and animal matter, such as occurs under water, by animal digestion, crop production, and decomposition of waste in landfills. Methane that is a primary component of natural gas has been odorized for ease of leak detection.
A large quantity of methane occurs trapped in marine sediments as a gas hydrate. Gas hydrate is a crystalline solid consisting of gas molecules, usually methane, each surrounded by a cage of water molecules. Although methane is a greenhouse gas, methane gas hydrates are a potential energy source.
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multi-beam survey
A ship-based method of mapping the bathymetry of the oceans using a sonar-based technique that produces a swath of bathymetry data rather than a line.
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n
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there are no entries for this letter
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o
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oasis
1. A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water.
2. Any area that is unexpectedly more fertile than expected.
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oceanic lithosphere
A section of lithosphere capped by oceanic crust.
Layers of the Earth Flash
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p
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photosynthesis
The process in plants and other autotrophs by which carbon dioxide and water are converted into organic compounds and oxygen using the energy of light absorbed by chlorophyll. Autotrophs include some bacteria, diatoms, and coccolithophores among others.
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photic zone
The sunlit layer of the ocean from the surface to the depth of 1% light level. Most primary productivity takes place within the photic zone. The depth varies geographically and seasonally and can range from a few meters in turbid, highly productive waters near the shore to around 200 m in tropical waters. The ocean average is around 100 m.. It is also known as the euphotic zone. It is a zone with sharp gradients in illumination, temperature and salinity, and overlies the aphotic zone.
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plate tectonics
The theory that the Earth's lithosphere consists of large, rigid plates that move horizontally in response to the flow of the asthenosphere beneath them, and that interactions among the plates at their margins are associated with major geologic activity such as earthquakes and volcanism, seafloor spreading , subduction, and mountain building are key processes at plate margins.
Click on the image to view a larger image.
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port
That side of a vessel which is on the left hand of a person who stands on board facing the bow; opposite side to starboard.
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professor
A college or university teacher. Research in a specialized field is often also a part of a professor's duties.
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q
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there are no entries for this letter
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r
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there are no entries for this letter
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s
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seamount
A conical underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity and rising 1000 meters or more from the sea floor.
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spruce
Any of various coniferous evergreen trees of the genus Picea, having needlelike foliage, drooping cones, and soft wood often used for paper pulp.
Stand of Sitka Spruce, the state tree of Alaska.
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starboard
That side of a vessel which is on the right hand of a person who stands on board facing the bow; opposite side to port.
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stern
The rear part of a ship or boat.
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subduction
1. The sinking and descent of an oceanic plate edge under another plate as a result of convergence with a plate of lesser density. Subduction often causes earthquakes and creates volcano chains.
2. The downward movement of a lithospheric plate at a boundary with another plate of lesser density. At subduction zones, the descending plate sinks into the mantle and begins to lose structural integrity. Earthquakes, volcanism, and offshore trenches are associated with areas of subduction.
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subduction zone
The zone of convergence of two tectonic plates, where one plate descends and the other overrides.
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sunlight
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. The frequencies of radiation from the Sun are concentrated in the visible light portion of the spectrum.
Click on the image to view a larger image.
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symbiosis
A close ecological association between two or more different species. The types of symbiotic relationships are: mutualism - both species benefit; commensalisms - one species benefits, the other is unaffected; parasitism - one species benefits, the other is harmed; competition - neither species benefits; neutralism - both species are unaffected.
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system
A system is a set of interrelated components working together towards some kind of process.
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t
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tide pool
A pool of water remaining after a tide has retreated. Also called tidal pool.
Click on the image to view a larger image.
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tubeworm
Any of various chiefly marine worms or wormlike invertebrates of the phyla Annelida, Pogonophora, Phoronida, or Vestimentifera, living within tubular cases made of mineral or chitinous secretions or of aggregated grit.
Vent worm Riftia
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u
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u-shaped valley
Valley that was influenced by the presence of glaciers. The cross-section of such valleys tends to be U-shaped because of glacial erosion
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v
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there are no entries for this letter
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w
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winch
A stationary motor-driven or hand-powered machine used for hoisting or hauling, having a drum around which is wound a rope or chain attached to the load being moved.
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World War II
The Second World War. WWII began in 1939 and ended in 1945.
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x
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there are no entries for this letter
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y
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there are no entries for this letter
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z
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zodiac™
A small inflatable boat used by the Alvin crew in deploying and retrieving Alvin.
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