In order for us to use the in-situ mass spectrometer to study the relationship between environmental chemistry and the ecology of the animal communities in these environments, we had to devise a way to sample very small amounts of water from amongst the animal communities and move it towards the inlet of the mass spectrometer. What you see here is our sampling wand that allows us to position two small hoses within the animal communities. The ROV pilot grabs the sample wand, retracts the sled, and prepares to move into position to take the sample. By talking with the scientists in the ROV control van, they make a decision on where to place the wand. Once in place we take fluid samples and make the chemical analysis. This allows us to study the relationship between the chemistry and the animals in the habitat. Video/Audio courtesy of Ian MacDonald, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007, NOAA-OE.
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Expedition to the Deep Slope 2007
