FKt241011 - Chile Seeps

In October/November 2024 we set sail on R/V Falkor(too), thanks to support from the Schmidt Ocean Institute, to investigate cold seeps along the dynamic Chile margin. Here, a submerged continental shelf abruptly drops into the Pacific, creating steep gradients where fluids escape from the subsurface. This tectonically driven environment hosts chemosynthetic communities fueled by seep fluids, making it an ideal natural laboratory for studying deep-sea ecosystem processes.

Our team combines geological mapping, fluid chemistry analyses, and biological sampling to characterize both known and previously undetected seeps between Valparaíso and Punta Arenas. Using high-resolution sonars to locate gas plumes, the ROV Subastian to image the seafloor, and giant gravity corers to retrieve sub-seafloor sediment, we document seafloor morphology, reconstruct the geological history of these areas, and observe resident fauna.

By linking fluid migration pathways to chemosynthetic production and nutrient cycling, we aim to reveal how seismic activity, sediment composition, and oceanographic conditions shape biodiversity and biogeochemical fluxes along this understudied margin.

Image credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute 2024

You may see nothing but muck in this video, but to the #ChileMargin2024 science team, this stinky, slimy mud carries a treasure trove of data. Sediment provides information about the whole environment and, depending on the sample, the region's geologic history. Using several different devices for collecting core samples, the scientists are working to create a complete picture of everything happening from the very top of the mud to several meters beneath the seafloor. This 55-day expedition will advance understanding of an essential area in the Ocean while strengthening efforts to manage and protect Chile’s waters.

Video credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute

ROV Control room

In this time-lapse, we’re inside the ROV Subastian control room as a deep-sea dive unfolds. Watch the pilots fly the ROV, scientists monitor live video feeds and sensor readouts across multiple screens, and engineers adjust settings—all in rapid succession.

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EN731 - USAM Seeps - AUV Sentry