During Dive 09 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, we encountered more of the mysterious holes observed in the seafloor during the fourth dive of the expedition. We observed these hole features four times during Dive 09 at depths ranging from approximately 1,440 to 1,500 meters (4,724 to 4,921 feet). At the first location, the remotely operated vehicle pilots used the suction sampler to collect sediment from fresher holes. A look at the sediment upon recovery revealed no clues as to what formed the holes. A water sample was collected at the second observation site for later processing for environmental DNA (eDNA), more about what may be living in or around the holes.
Mysterious Holes
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022. Download larger version (jpg, 2 MB).

During Dive 09 of the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, we encountered more of the mysterious holes observed in the seafloor during the fourth dive of the expedition. We observed these hole features four times during Dive 09 at depths ranging from approximately 1,440 to 1,500 meters (4,724 to 4,921 feet). At the first location, the remotely operated vehicle pilots used the suction sampler to collect sediment from fresher holes. A look at the sediment upon recovery revealed no clues as to what formed the holes. A water sample was collected at the second observation site for later processing for environmental DNA (eDNA), more about what may be living in or around the holes.

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