Thomas Pichler
Assistant
Professor
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Thomas Pichler Assistant
Professor |
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This was a truly multi-diciplinary research project. It brought together
ocean engineers, geologists, vulcanologists and geochemists. We mapped
the immediate seafloor around the island with a side scan sonar,
which later was followed by sampling of submarine lava flows and
hydrothermal vents in water shallower than 30m.
Some views of the island itself. White Island is one of the most active volcanoes
ofn our planet. It has been estimated to be active for more than 10,000 years.
The first image is from the SE out of our helicopter, the second from the NW
through the Volkner Rocks and the third through a window of the old sulfur plant.
The fourth image shows myself, standing fearless
in front of the abyss.
   
Here are some pictures
of our crew and our boat the MV "Ma
Cherie". Everybody is doing what he can do best. On the first picture
we are all together on highest spot of the island
      
Some pictures of
the things one can see in the waters around the island. We observed three
types of hydrothermal
discharge. One vented only
liquid at approximately
60°C and precipitated Fe-oxyhydroxides around the vent ports. The second
produced mainly gas and had white bacterial mats around the vent ports. The
third was a combination of gas and liquid
and precipitated native sulfur.
      
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