Getting Down with USGS Science!

Cave diving scientist David Brankovits from the USGS and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and DSO Jake Emmert (Moody Gardens) recover the OPP water sampling device designed and engineered by Emile Bergeron (USGS). The OPP collects samples across a chemical interface where bacteria entrain methane -- a dissolved gas -- into the food web. The OPP is powered by compressed gas and is able to collect pristine samples separated by a little as 1 inch. What up with OPP?! Conducting science in this harsh environment safely and effectively requires advanced training, meticulous planning and, let’s face it, nerves of steel.