Name a Seamount!
The Ninetyeast Ridge is, well, a long ridge.
But it is also made up of many individual seamounts and ridge segments. Overall, they share the same name, but individually, they seem to be nameless. We need names for these seamounts for reference – so we don’t have to say stuff like “the dredge on the flank of the seamount at 1°20’S, 89°35’E” or something like that.
Undersea features are usually names by international cartographic organizations. In the United States the agency is the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN). They keep a record of “official” names. Most official names start off as unofficial names bestowed by oceanographers when they first discover or investigate a feature. Whatever we name the seamounts is likely candidate for an official name one day. And besides, we don’t want to go to meetings and call our seamounts Fred.
We like names that are compatible with USBGN guidelines, for example, we can’t name a feature after anyone living, no political statements or names, and nothing offensive. If you check the USBGN Gazeteer on Undersea Names, you will find some of the names already used.
Here is the link to their current website: http://geonames.usgs.gov/pppdgn.html
Most of the older research ships are already enshrined, as are the “forefathers” of marine geology, scientists, some musicians (there is a Musicians Seamount Province in the Pacific). Themes are good. Perhaps ancient philosophers? Perhaps ancient south Asian civilizations? Famous Kings? Warriors? What names can you think of?
We already have visited the five seamounts shown on the figure. Seamount A is where Ocean Drilling Program Site 758 is located and we mapped its southern flank in our first survey along with the twin peaked seamount B. We skimmed the edge of Seamount C and took a dredge there. Next we spent several days surveying Seamount D, where Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 216 is located. At present, we are working on our third dredge on Seamount E.
Research
Expedition Background Articles:
Hotspots and Ninetyeast Ridge: What’s a hotspot?, by Will Sager
Anatomy of a Seamount Survey, by Will Sager
Dredging Operations onboard the R/V Revelle, by Amy Eisin
Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks, by Fred Frey
Cool Expedition Discoveries Already!, by Will Sager
What is Bathymetry?, by Will Sager
Acoustics: Substitute for Superman Vision?, by Will Sager
Magnetometers (“Maggie”) and Attracting Sharks, by Rory Wilson
High.Seas.HIGHTECH/ analyze!ocean@voyages, by lots of us...
How to Become a Captain, by the Captain
The Search for the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, by Leslie Nemazi.
Rocks Rock! (or ) The Fresh Cut Surface of Beautiful Ocean Rock, by Evelyn Mervine
Exploring the Bridge of the RV Roger Revelle
