Science AMA Series: We are the OASIS Science Team exploring submarine volcanoes in the eastern, equatorial Pacifc. We are using deep sea technology to investigate magma processes and the formation of submarine volcanoes. We will answer your questions LIVE from onboard the R/V Atlantis. AUA!

See the source article by following the link below:

Hi Reddit!

Only ~5% of the ocean floor has been mapped at sub-100m resolution and less than 1% has been explored at meter scale resolution. What this means is that we know very little about 2/3 of the surface of our planet! The oceans are truly the last frontier on Earth.

This month the OASIS (Off-Axis Seamount Investigations at Siqueiros) Team is on a 30-day expedition aboard the R/V Atlantis mapping and sampling a chain of underwater volcanoes in the eastern Pacific that has never been explored before. We are conducting an extensive field program to better understand how magma moves through the mantle to form new oceanic crust. Understanding how new crust is formed is critical for understanding the development of mineral deposits (included rare earth elements used in your computers, phones, and solar panels), plate tectonics and geologic hazards from volcanoes and earthquakes, how volcanoes are formed underwater, on land, and on other planets and planetary objects, and also the creation of habitable environments for deep marine life.

Our field program is utilizing the manned submarine Alvin (for exploring the terrain, collecting samples, and mapping), the autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry (for sub-meter scale topographic maps and geophysical data), and the MISO TowCam (high resolution images and rapid assessment of potential dive sights).

Yan and Ian are diving in Alvin today, but the rest of us will be back at 1 pm EDT to answer your questions. Ask Us Anything!

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Our team of scientist explorers includes:

• Dr. Trish Gregg (Chief Scientist, PhD MIT-WHOI Joint Program, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois)

• Dr. Dan Fornari (co-Chief Scientist, PhD LDEO Columbia University, Senior Scientist at WHOI)

• Dr. Mike Perfit (co-Chief Scientist, PhD LDEO Columbia University, Professor at the University of Florida)

• Dr. Dorsey Wanless (PhD University of Florida, Assistant Professor at Boise State)

• Dr. Denny Geist (PhD University of Oregon, Program Manager at the National Science Foundation)

• Dr. Ian Ridley (PhD University of London, Director of Central Mineral Resources Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey)

• Dr. Steve Shirey (PhD SUNY Stony Brook, Staff Scientist at the Carnegie Dept. of Terrestrial Magnetism)

• Dr. Craig Lundstrom (PhD UC-Santa Cruz, Professor at the University of Illinois)

• Dr. Matt Smith (PhD University of Florida, Lecturer University of Florida)

• Haley Cabaniss (PhD Student at the University of Illinois)

• Yan Zhan (PhD Student at the University of Illinois)

• Jack Albright /u/jackaalbright (PhD Student at the University of Illinois)

• Valentina Romano (PhD Student at the University of Rome)

• Charelle Trim /u/charellestrim (PhD Student at the University of Florida)

• Bridgit Boulahanis /u/midoceanbridg (PhD Student at LDEO Columbia University)

• Yen Joe Tan /u/yenjoetan (PhD Student at LDEO Columbia University)

• Emma McCully /u/emmamccully (Research Assistant at WHOI)

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We have partnered with schools on land and are hosting a YouTube Channel about our adventures geared towards K-8th grade students:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2qHa5PSZCF2_KeCvRTaFGQ

We are also providing updates on Facebook at:

http://ift.tt/2guAXWJ

Additional links:

R/V Atlantis: http://ift.tt/1VXxVIX

HOV Alvin: http://ift.tt/1AbRwKQ

AUV Sentry: http://ift.tt/2guHqRw

MISO TowCam: http://ift.tt/1epEq3h

">Science AMA Series: We are the OASIS Science Team exploring submarine volcanoes in the eastern, equatorial Pacifc. We are using deep sea technology to investigate magma processes and the formation of submarine volcanoes. We will answer your questions LIVE from onboard the R/V Atlantis. AUA!