By Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA

On Wednesday, June 6, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) and Ocean Exploration Trust departed from Sydney, B.C. on their annual 21-day expedition, where the team could be the first to lay eyes on a newly formed ocean floor.

In early March a series of more than 200 earthquakes per hour, referred to as an earthquake swarm, was detected at a depth of five kilometers and roughly 240 kilometers offshore of Vancouver Island at the Juan de Fuca Ridge site. The earthquakes reached a magnitude of 4.1.

含羞草研究社淭he spike of earthquake activity at the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge could be a sign of an 含羞草研究社榠mpending magmatic rupture含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� reads a statement from ONC, quoting marine seismology PhD candidate Zoe Krauss. 含羞草研究社淎 natural phenomena that can form new ocean floor.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淎s tectonic plates pull apart, cracks form on the seafloor and are filled periodically by 800-degree Celsius magma rising from deep beneath the Earth含羞草研究社檚 crust,含羞草研究社� the statement continued. 含羞草研究社淭he intense heat from the magma cools rapidly once in contact with the cold seawater and solidifies into new oceanic crust.含羞草研究社�

According to the statement, scientists expect this 含羞草研究社渂urst含羞草研究社� in seismic activity to occur at the Endeavour site every 20 years.

含羞草研究社淭hey were predicting that an increase of earthquake activity would happen fairly soon,含羞草研究社� said Meghan Paulson, ONC expedition lead. 含羞草研究社淭hey were on high alert.含羞草研究社�

Paulson shared that through ONC含羞草研究社檚 800-kilometre Neptune ocean observatory, scientists could watch the seismic sensors in real time as the earthquakes occurred.

含羞草研究社淭he reason that they were anticipating it, and where it含羞草研究社檚 not unusual to see earthquake activity in that area, is because it is basically right at a spreading center,含羞草研究社� she said.

Once they reach the Endeavour site, the team will conduct visual surveys in areas where the earthquakes were concentrated to look for newly formed seafloor, shared Paulson. They will also keep an eye out to see if any of the hydrothermal vents in that area have fallen from seismic activity, she noted.

含羞草研究社淲e have some ideas, but we don含羞草研究社檛 really know for sure until we get there,含羞草研究社� said Paulson.

含羞草研究社淯nderwater earthquakes can not only topple existing sulfide towers, but also alter the way fluids travel beneath vent systems, changing the chemistry and temperature,含羞草研究社� reads the statement from March. 含羞草研究社淎lthough not expected at Endeavour, if magma breaches the seafloor, pillow lava may pave over existing vent structures, much like the Hawaiian seafloor.含羞草研究社�

In partnership with ONC, the expedition is an initiative of the University of Victoria and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET). This annual expedition will visit sites along their 800-kilometre ocean observatory to map the seafloor while also performing maintenance on their deep-sea scientific instruments, shared Paulson.

The expedition plans to visit Clayoquot Slope, Middle Valley, Endeavour, Cascadia Basin and Barkley Canyon, and will be live streaming on both the Ocean Networks Canada website and Nautilus live website.

Paulson shared that with the expedition OCN and OET want people to 含羞草研究社渃ome with us on this journey to the bottom of the ocean含羞草研究社�.

含羞草研究社淭his expedition in particular, we facilitate Ship to Shore interactions where schools, camps, .125and.375 different groups are able to interact with the crew at sea, in real time,含羞草研究社� said Paulson. 含羞草研究社淚f people have questions or have an interest, while they含羞草研究社檙e watching, they含羞草研究社檙e really able to just hop on the chat and get involved.含羞草研究社�

The expedition, which is expected to last until June 21, can be watched .

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