24 Hrs on the seafloor

This past week at work, I compiled a time-lapse movie from recordings by a video camera operating 111 metres below the sea surface in a place called Saanich Inet.

This silent movie spans a 24-hr period on November 11, 2008. The camera captured 3 minutes of action every half hour over the period; each clip is sped up to create a sort of time-lapse effect. In the upper-right corner, a trace of depth indicates tidal phase over the course of the day. Tempo-mini's oxygen sensor is the device at left.



At this 111m location, squat lobsters, soles, anemones, and sponges inhabit the seafloor, which is visited by a wide assortment of small fish, krill and plankton. An unusual visitor (a seal!) makes a brief appearance toward the end of the movie.

NOTE: This is the low-bandwidth version. To see it in higher-resolution, watch it on the NEPTUNE Canada website.

What interesting things do you see in the clip? Do you notice the sole landing on the anemone? How about the dance of the squat lobsters? Please share your observations!