Gail Christeson, Kirk McIntosh, and Yosio Nakamura led a scientific cruise on the R/V Maurice Ewing to Hess Deep, located near 2 degrees north in the eastern Pacific. The scientists collected seismic reflection and refraction data on the plateau adjacent to the Hess Deep. The purpose of the seismic survey was to generate a “picture” of the structure of Earth’s crust at Hess Deep from the seismic data, which scientists can compare with the outcrop geology observed by NSF-sponsored submersible dives carried out in 1999 and 2001.

Hess Deep is named after Harry Hess who developed the hypothesis that new seafloor crust is created by the upwelling and spreading of lava along mid-ocean ridges.

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Image Source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/do62se.html