Mission Summary

Submarine Ring of Fire 2012: Northeast Lau Basin was the latest in a series of expeditions to explore the submarine volcanoes of the Western Pacific. An interdisciplinary team of 27 scientists and technical experts to use the remotely operated vehicle Quest 4000 to explore and collect samples at volcanic vents and hot springs in order to characterize the unique ecosystems in the Northeast Lau basin through examination of their geology, chemistry, and macro- and micro- biology.