By Suraida Nanez James

This is the latest in a series of dispatches from scientists and education officers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor. The crew is on 36-day research trip to study Tamu Massif, a massive underwater volcano, located 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) east of Japan in the Shatsky Rise. Read more posts here.

As the end of Magnetic Anomalies expedition draws near, we will soon complete our exploration over Tamu Massif, the World’s Largest Single Volcano.

PhD student John Greene continues to process Tamu Massif bathymetric data and always creates a 3D image to share with students across the globe.
Credit: Suraida Nanez-James

Map of Tamu Massif showing the latest survey lines completed.
Credit: William Sager

Chief Scientist Dr. William Sager has expressed his satisfaction with all the good data that we have collected and the information that has been shared with students around the world.  We are currently finishing Line 10 and will survey part of Line 9 tomorrow before heading to Guam and then to whatever place we call home.  Even though we will be heading home shortly, we will still collect important magnetic data as we head SW to Guam and sail across the magnetic lineations south of Tamu Massif.  Through all our weather detours and rough seas, the Captain and the Falkor’s crew managed our fuel and energy sources well and made sure that the cruise survey went as planned.  More to come as we wrap up our volcano data, outreach, and our final thoughts of the R/V Falkor.

Student watchstanders remain diligent in their record keeping and discussions of Tamu Massif as the data streams into the Science Control Room.
Credit: William Sager

Team Sager Presses On
Even though our expedition will end soon, that does not mean we stop working.  There is still data to record and process and outreach to be done, plus reports and statistics to compile.  So, we press forward as everyone on Team Sager wraps up their cruise reports for class, and other purposes.  Compiling thirty-six days of data and thoughts in the next few days will provide a nice challenge as we decide what highlights will be best to showcase and discuss.  Other data will take months and even years to process as the story of Tamu Massif continues to intrigue us. The secrets revealed will be ongoing but worth the wait as we begin to understand how such a massive volcano can form the way it did and what it means to us in respect to the formation of the planet we call home.

A Halloween Celebration to Remember
Well, the crew never fails to find the best ways to celebrate any special day on the ship and Halloween is no exception.  With a “Monsters and Superheroes” theme, an array of costumes were crafted together with items from around ship and select pieces of costumes borrowed from the crew lounge.  Chef Greg and Chef Matthew whipped up a “scary” yet delightful buffet filled with more delicious food than we could eat.  Dead man’s ankles, sliced arms, and lady fingers are just a few I remember.  Monster mash music accompanied by more tricks than treats, made the evening a night to remember for all of us on Team Sager.  It is always a pleasure to a share a meal and a good time with the Falkor crew, especially after a long week of work.

– Suraida Nanez James is the Manager of Distance Learning and Outreach at the Texas State Aquarium