Images

Water molecules (1 red oxygen and 2 white hydrogens) form a pentagonal dodecahedron around a methane molecule (1 gray carbon and 4 green hydrogens). This represents 2 of the 8 parts of the typical Structure I gas hydrate molecule.

The Instrumented Pressure Testing Chamber (IPTC). A device for measuring the physical properties of naturally-occurring, hydrate-bearing sediment at nearly in situ pressure conditions

The R/V Rafael performs nearshore geophysical surveys, and includes high resolution sub-bottom profiling, sidescan sonar, and multibeam echosounding in its arsenal of survey capabilities.

Sandra Brosnahan (USGS) collecting water samples (Long Island, NY).

John Pohlman (USGS, left) and colleagues from the University of Alaska Fairbanks examine a sediment core retrieved through winter ice from the bottom of a lake in northern Alaska. Such cores are used to reconstruct methane emissions and climate history over the past 20,000 years.

Map of the North American - Caribbean tectonic plate boundary. Colors denote depth below sea level and elevation on land. Bold numbers are the years of moderately large (larger than about M7) historical earthquakes written next to their approximate location. Asterisk - Location of the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

A methane seep in shallow Lake Qalluuraq on the Alaskan North Slope near the Native Village of Atqasuk breaks the water's surface during 2009 geophysical surveys

 U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy breaks ice ahead of the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent on September 1, 2009. The two ships were part of a multi-year, multi-agency Arctic survey that will help define the North American continental shelf.

Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St. Laurent alongside U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Arctic Ocean. The United States and Canada are mapping the Arctic seafloor and gathering data to help define the outer limits of the continental shelf in this region. 

A sub-bottom profile of CHIRP seismic data is draped over swath bathymetry showing the Gulf of Maine pockmark field stratigraphy common to the area. Seafloor mapping combined with sub-bottom geologic profiles shows that Holocene mud ranges in thickness between 5 and 10 meters but pockmarks in Belfast Bay do not penetrate below the geologic unconformity. Th

The Native communities’ in-ground food storage facilities are being lost as a result of eroding bluffs and thawing permafrost.

Fire Island, NY sand dunes with protective sand fencing

Fire Island, New York shoreline

Shorebirds on the shoreline on a Fire Island, NY beach

Ocean side homes on Fire Island, New York

Looking astern, the airgun sled is in its cradle in the center of the photo.  The crew are manually recovering the multichannel streamer and beginning the large figure-8 shape of coiling it on deck. Work at sea occurs 24 hours a day.  In late September, there is ~12 hours of night, resulting in gear recovery at night.

Science crew ran the multichannel seismic equipment, sonobuoy refraction equipment, navigation, marine mammal observations program, and incidental science studies.  Dr. Deborah Hutchinson (USGS liaison aboard the Canadian icebreaker) is 7^th from the right.  Dr. David Mosher, Chief Scientist aboard Louis is 10^th from the right.

Seismic Lab aboard CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent

Protected Species Observer aboard CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent

U.S. and Canadian two icebreaker collaboration in the Arctic Ocean. Flags flying from CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.