The entire crew will begin the expedition on the 274-foot RV Thomas G. Thompson. The Thompson is a state-of-the-art, ocean-going research vessel set up as a floating research laboratory. Owned by the Office of Naval Research, the Thompson is outfitted with facilities for up to 38 researchers and 21 crew members. The Thompson's equipment is sophisticated. It includes computer and chemical laboratories, apparatus to measure, sample, and map geologic activity on and below the ocean floor, and mechanical equipment necessary to retrieve 4,000 pound black smokers.
In order to measure and record the process of recovering the smokers and their impact on their ocean environment, researchers will use a variety of scientific tools. A spider-like temperature array will be one of the tools used. Scientists will place this temperature probe array over the sulfide stump, once the smoker is removed, to remain for one year.
Other tools include video imagery, placement of high-temperature probes into vents, and low-temperature probes into a variety of sites, biological sampling, staining, water sampling, and geological exploration.
In addition to all of this equipment, the Thompson will carry the ROPOS or Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Science. The scientists and crew members will be shuttling between the Thompson and the Tully by a boat, the Zodiac as part of this two-ship operation.
