The PLUME Cruises



The interdisciplinary Plume-Lithosphere Undersea Melt Experiment studies the shape and the origin of the mantle plume beneath the Hawaiian hotspot that is responsible for spectacular volcanism on the surface. The centerpiece of this 5-year project is an unprecedented long-term deployment of broad-band OBS (ocean bottom seismometers) to record teleseismic earthquakes. These recordings will let us illuminate the deep interior beneath Hawaii using tomographic techniques much like what is used for CAT scans of the human body. This web page will summarize the ongoing cruises and research results of the project that has started in January 2005 with the first deployment cruise.

Quick links

Cruise 1: Deployment on R/V Melville 2005
Cruise 2: Recovery on R/V Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa 2006
Cruise 3: Deployment on R/V Kilo Moana 2006
Cruise 4: Recovery on R/V Kilo Moana 2007
Cruise 5: Rescue on R/V Kilo Moana with ROV Jason 2007


Cruise 1: Deployment on R/V Melville 2005

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Cruise 2: Recovery on R/V Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa 2006

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Cruise 3: Deployment on R/V Kilo Moana 2006

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Cruise 4: Recovery on R/V Kilo Moana 2007

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Cruise 5: Rescue on R/V Kilo Moana with ROV Jason 2007

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The First PLUME cruise

Melville's current position

Friday, January 07, 2005: boat transfer from Wailoa boat ramp to Melville.
       Deployed site 1 and performed SIO acoustics test.
Saturday, January 08, 2005: deployed sites 2, 3, 4; fire drill
Sunday, January 09, 2005: deployed sites 5, 6, 7
Monday, January 10, 2005: deployed sites 8, 9, seabeam of Maui Fracture Zone
Tuesday, January 11, 2005: deployed sites 10 (thunderstorm), 11, 12
Wednesday, January 12, 2005: gorgeous day; deployed sites 13, 14, 15
Thursday, January 13, 2005: gorgeous day; deployed sites 16, 17, 18
Friday, January 14, 2005: emergency stop in Hilo for sick crew member; deployed site 14
Saturday, January 15, 2005: deployed sites 25, 23, 22
Sunday, January 16, 2005: gorgeous day; deployed sites 20, 19
Monday, January 17, 2005: gorgeous day; deployed sites 21, 26, 27
Tuesday, January 18, 2005: gorgeous day; stayed on lee side of 20ft swell;
    deployed sites 28, 29, 30
Wednesday, January 19, 2005: deployed sites 31, 32, 35
Thursday, January 20, 2005: deployed sites 34, 33;
    Clague pick-up in Kona; dredge at D1; Mahukona Reef
Friday, January 21, 2005: 2 dredges and survey in Alenuihaha Channel
    no trade winds, calm channel!
    one additional dredge at D1
Saturday, January 22, 2005: 2 dredges at Mahukona Ridge, D3
Sunday, January 23, 2005: 2 dredges at Kahoolawe Ridge, 1 dredge at Lanai reef
Monday, January 24, 2005: 2 dredges at Penguin Ridge
Tuesday, January 25, 2005: in port by 8am
Missed the cruise? Here are some pictures.
... sorry, links are all dead. Will update ASAP.

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