New Zealand and American scientists have joined forces to explore some of the world’s most active undersea volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc, northeast of the Bay of Plenty.
Using a submersible from the University of Hawaii, they plan to find out more about the nature and diversity of marine life that populates submarine volcanoes.
They are also aiming to gain new knowledge about the geology and chemistry of the seafloor and its ecosystems within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The scientists will dive on eight volcanoes, at least two of which are bigger than Mt Ruapehu and intensely active.
The first leg of the 'New Zealand-American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 Expedition' leaves Pago Pago, American Samoa, on 3 April and is expected to arrive in Tauranga on 22 April. Depending on the weather, the scientists hope to make 35 dives during the 70-day expedition.
"This will be the first intensive exploration of the chain of seafloor volcanoes in New Zealand’s offshore territory. It will set the stage for future exploration of our Exclusive Economic Zone," said Dr Alexander Malahoff, chief executive of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd (GNS).
Dr Malahoff, and Gary Massoth of GNS, will lead parts of the voyage with Dr Robert Embley of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Most of the target volcanoes have not been explored by submersible before. They were identified during previous New Zealand-American voyages on the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) deepwater research vessel, Tangaroa.
"If the weather and safety considerations permit, our first dives will probably be on the giant volcano, Monowai, which we discovered last year. Its caldera (crater) is as big as Wellington harbour, and eruptions have been recorded there as recently as the beginning of March," Dr Ian Wright, of NIWA, said.
The submersibles, PISCES IV and V, are operated by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, and the expedition uses the University of Hawaii research vessel, Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa, which will carry the submersibles, personnel, and equipment. The dive programme is funded by GNS, NIWA, and NOAA. In total, 16 scientists will participate in the voyage, from NOAA, GNS, NIWA, Oregon State University, and the University of Washington.