The suction sampler of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer gently collects a lobate ctenophore during Dive 03 of Windows to the Deep 2021. It was collected during the midwater transect at 600 meters (1,967 feet) depth, which was selected as a depth for exploration because it was the site of the deep-scattering layer (DSL) at the start of the dive. The DSL is a region in the water column where there is such a high density of marine organisms that they generate their own sonar signal. By the time of the 600-meter transect, however, the DSL had appeared to disperse or thin out, though it was unclear if this was natural or due to ROV interference.
Suction Sampler Collecting a Ctenophore
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2021.
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The suction sampler of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer gently collects a lobate ctenophore during Dive 03 of Windows to the Deep 2021. It was collected during the midwater transect at 600 meters (1,967 feet) depth, which was selected as a depth for exploration because it was the site of the deep-scattering layer (DSL) at the start of the dive. The DSL is a region in the water column where there is such a high density of marine organisms that they generate their own sonar signal. By the time of the 600-meter transect, however, the DSL had appeared to disperse or thin out, though it was unclear if this was natural or due to ROV interference.