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How did deep-towed cameras help scientists find hydrothermal vents?
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undersea exploration
Learn about the pioneering life and work of American oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle.
Deep-towed camera systems, such as the ANGUS (Acoustically Navigated Geological Underwater Survey) sled, have been instrumental in the discovery of hydrothermal vents at spreading centres.
These systems function by being towed behind a research vessel near the seafloor, where they capture thousands of high-resolution photographs in a single day. By analyzing these overlapping images, scientists can construct detailed photomosaic strips that reveal small-scale features on the order of centimeters, allowing researchers to identify the specific locations of vent sites that might otherwise remain hidden in the deep ocean.1