HARBOR BRANCH SUBMERSIBLES COMMAND A ROLE IN UNDERWATER SCIENTIFIC SAMPLING

This paper describes several successful, ongoing science projects util izing Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution's (HBOI) manned submersi bles. One project involved imaging natural and man-made objects near t he ocean floor using a Laser-line-scanning (LLS) system equipped with multiple receivers. This system was interfaced to the Research Submers ible CLELIA and employed on five missions during 1996. Spectacular hig h-resolution black and white, fluorescence and color images were obtai ned. Interdisciplinary research cruises to cold-seep regions of the Gu lf of Mexico with the JOHNSON-SEA-LINK (J-S-L) submersibles allow mult i-parameter probing of brine pools and specialized collection of biolo gical, geological and geochemical samples. Tube worms are routinely ma rked for growth-rate studies and collected individually and collective ly along with other biological species, which inhabit the complex cold -seep communities. Samples of sediment and methane ice are also select ively collected for later analysis. The ability of the J-S-Ls to appro ach and collect, without contact, delicate zooplankton has been well k nown to mid-water scientists for some time. Now, with the addition of a low-light autocalibrating radiometer (LoLAR) and a PS 1000 spectrome ter, we are able to measure the visual environment of collected organi sms even at the very dim light levels, which many of these animals inh abit. Use of these instruments on an untethered, neutrally buoyant sub mersible eliminates many problems associated with ship and ROV deploym ents. These include surface coupled motion, ship's shadow, variable an gle of the photosensor and unwanted stimulation of bioluminescence. Wh ile making measurements, the on-board scientists can observe animal be havior and their distribution patterns. Specimens of deep-water, inver tebrate animals are routinely located, identified, in-situ photographe d and collected with the J-S-L submersibles for our bio-medical resear chers. A large number of these samples are transported in our shipboar d laboratories to Fort Pierce for extraction and analysis of the Mo-ac tive chemicals. The presence of a scientific specialist within the sub mersible to visually identify the specimen and supervise the collectio n process is essential to the success of the mission.