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Ocean Frontier Revealed: Scientists to Describe Unexpected Discoveries of Arctic Research CruiseUndersea vents, sonar maps, deep-earth samples featuredThe Arctic Ocean is one of Earth's least explored oceanic frontiers. Last summer, a research team aboard USCGC Healy, the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker, exceeded its most ambitious hopes to map the ocean's floor and reveal geological and biological features of the underwater Gakkel Ridge. Despite prevailing scientific opinion to the contrary, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded team discovered evidence of hydrothermal activity along the Gakkel Ridge including a field of undersea vents. The science party also dredged up sponges and other marine life previously not known to survive in the frigid Arctic waters; used sonar to map the ridge at a level of detail that was thought impossible aboard a working icebreaker; and was able to sample the deep interior of the earth rising directly to the seafloor as solid rock through a "great gash" dotted with volcanoes. "This incredibly successful voyage for Healy
exceeded all expectations in every department," said
chief scientist Peter Michael of the University of
Tulsa. Michael will join other Healy researchers,
a classroom teacher who worked with the science team,
and a Coast Guard representative at the National Press
Club to describe the Healy's voyage.
For more information contact: Broadcasters: For B-Roll of the Healy and the ship's voyage to the Gakkel Ridge on Betacam SP, contact NSF's Dena Headlee, (703) 292-8070/dheadlee@nsf.gov. The event will be Webcast.
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