Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Squat lobsters at Seamount X (Lat. 13 15N, Long. 144 01E) living upon a huge sulfur deposit.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. The plethora of squat lobsters at Seamount X (Lat. 13 15 N, Long. 144 01 E) disperse as the Jason II ROV comes in for a closer view.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Squat lobsters at Seamount X (Lat. 13 15N, Long. 144 01E) living upon a huge sulfur deposit. closer view.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A glimpse of a biological community at a Forecast vent site. The species that occur here and in the Mariana backarc spreading center differ from those on the seamounts of the Mariana arc to the north. Snails and white squat lobsters are seen in this image.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Sampling mineral and biota from the Forecast Seamount Vent Site.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A grenadier hanging out near an extinct vent chimney.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A large white crab and smaller squat lobsters on bacterial mat and volcanic rock.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. An active vent spewing shimmering hot water. Snails

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Clouds of hydrothermal fluids and small sulfur balls coming into view as an active vent is approached.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Sulfur balls ejected from an active vent and hydrothermal fluids and gases.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Clouds of hydrothermal fluids during an active venting episode.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Clouds of hydrothermal fluids during an active venting episode.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Sampling bag above iron oxide stained sediments.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Sampling claw retrieving hydrothermally altered rock.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Sampling bag showing above deep sea fish.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Yellow chunks of sulfur on top of iron oxide stained sediments.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Robotic arm with sampling bag above hydrothermal vent area. Note yellow staining from sulfurous effluents.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Shrimp on hydrothermally altered bottom material in vicinity of active venting area.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Hydrothermally altered rock material.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A reddish marine creature swimming to the left while vent shrimp crawl over a sulfur- laden outcrop.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Balls of native sulfur lay on black sediment in a hydrothermal vent area.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Robotic arm grasping sulfur encrusted rock.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Robotic arm grasping glob of pure sulfur.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Sulfur-laden hydrothermal fluids and gases venting from the seafloor.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Vent shrimp in the vicinity of a cloud of hydrothermal fluids.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Vent shrimp in a cloud of hydrothermal fluid.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. An agglomeration of red and yellow vent shrimp. The reason for their color differences is unknown.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A swarm of red and yellow vent shrimp

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A swarm of red and yellow vent shrimp

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. A close-up of red and white vent shrimp.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Vent shrimp on sulfur covered outcrops.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Carbon dioxide bubbles rise above an active vent.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Carbon dioxide bubbles rise above an active vent.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Carbon dioxide bubbles rise above an active vent.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Clouds of hydrothermal fluids rising above the seafloor.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Clouds of hydrothermal fluids rising above sulfur-covered rocks on the seafloor.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. A lone bubble of carbon dioxide rises above an active hydrothermal vent.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Carbon dioxide bubbles rising above clouds of hydrothermal fluids.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Carbon dioxide bubbles rising above clouds of hydrothermal fluids.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. An outcrop of sulfur covered with material from hydrothermal venting.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. A raging cloud of hydrothermal effluents venting explosively. It might be time to start retrieving the ROV.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. A raging cloud of hydrothermal effluents venting explosively. It might be time to start retrieving the ROV.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. A raging cloud of hydrothermal effluents venting explosively. It might be time to start retrieving the ROV.

Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition. Diving at NW Rota-1 Brimstone Pit. Volcanic rocks covered with materials from active hydrothermal venting.