Osmotic Sampler V16

An old osmosampler at Hydrate Ridge, near Einstein's Grotto. It will be replaced with a newer instrument on a future dive. In the meantime, it serves as "habitat" for a rockfish and sea star.

Photo Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, Dive R1750, V14

Osmotic samplers draw hydrothermal fluids into small capillary-like tubing and allow long-term sampling of diffuse and black smoker hydrothermal fluids, as well as fluids from methane seeps.

Osmo samplers were installed in 2014 at the base of the chimney called Mushroom in the ASHES hydrothermal field in the Axial Base (MJ03B) and at the Southern Hydrate Ridge Summit 2 (MJ01B).