U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and British Geological Survey scientists (with support from NOAA, USGS and U.S. Department of Energy) are currently on an underwater expedition to study methane seeps on the ocean floor of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic margin, located in the Atlantic Ocean between Maryland and North Carolina. Speedcast customer Oceaneering’s Global Explorer remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is exploring various seeps on the ocean floor, and a live public video feed of the moving ROV is available here thanks to satellite connectivity from Speedcast’s marine offshore skid system.
The IMMeRSS (Interagency Mission for Methane Research at Seafloor Seeps) expedition is taking place until May 11, and its main goal is to obtain samples and gather information that leads to understanding: the age of rock and sediment, rare living organisms and methane plumes (streams of gas bubbles emitted from seafloor vents) at depths of 400-1,600 meters (1,300-2,500 feet). By studying these, scientists can infer timing and source of methane emissions, discover new seeps and study the ecosystem to draw conclusions about the world’s ocean basins.
For more information about the IMMeRSS expedition, please click here for the mission overview by the U.S. Geological Survey team or visit the USGS website.
Speedcast’s marine offshore skid is engineered specifically for compact size and simple installation onboard maritime vessels and offshore rigs. The fully managed solution enables: remote communications for critical applications, real-time data transfer, unlimited usage with one fee and 24x7 customer support to keep offshore teams reliably connected to the rest of the world.
