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.

91裸聊视频淭he spike of earthquake activity at the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge could be a sign of an 91裸聊视频榠mpending magmatic rupture91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� reads a statement from ONC, quoting marine seismology PhD candidate Zoe Krauss. 91裸聊视频淎 natural phenomena that can form new ocean floor.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎s tectonic plates pull apart, cracks form on the seafloor and are filled periodically by 800-degree Celsius magma rising from deep beneath the Earth91裸聊视频檚 crust,91裸聊视频� the statement continued. 91裸聊视频淭he intense heat from the magma cools rapidly once in contact with the cold seawater and solidifies into new oceanic crust.91裸聊视频�

According to the statement, scientists expect this 91裸聊视频渂urst91裸聊视频� in seismic activity to occur at the Endeavour site every 20 years.

91裸聊视频淭hey were predicting that an increase of earthquake activity would happen fairly soon,91裸聊视频� said Meghan Paulson, ONC expedition lead. 91裸聊视频淭hey were on high alert.91裸聊视频�

Paulson shared that through ONC91裸聊视频檚 800-kilometre Neptune ocean observatory, scientists could watch the seismic sensors in real time as the earthquakes occurred.

91裸聊视频淭he reason that they were anticipating it, and where it91裸聊视频檚 not unusual to see earthquake activity in that area, is because it is basically right at a spreading center,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲e have some ideas, but we don91裸聊视频檛 really know for sure until we get there,91裸聊视频� said Paulson.

91裸聊视频淯nderwater earthquakes can not only topple existing sulfide towers, but also alter the way fluids travel beneath vent systems, changing the chemistry and temperature,91裸聊视频� reads the statement from March. 91裸聊视频淎lthough not expected at Endeavour, if magma breaches the seafloor, pillow lava may pave over existing vent structures, much like the Hawaiian seafloor.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频渃ome with us on this journey to the bottom of the ocean91裸聊视频�.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� said Paulson. 91裸聊视频淚f people have questions or have an interest, while they91裸聊视频檙e watching, they91裸聊视频檙e really able to just hop on the chat and get involved.91裸聊视频�

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

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