Underwater Oases of the Mar Del Plata Canyon - Schmidt Ocean Institute

Two powerful currents converge in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon in Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone. One is warm and salty; the other is nutrient-rich and cold. Together, they form the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence, one of the most energetic regions in our global Ocean. These currents help to redistribute heat from the tropics to the poles and play a prominent role in the Earth’s climate. While scientists know these currents support submarine canyon ecosystems, their effects have never been visualized. This expedition will explore the diversity and distribution of seafloor communities in one of the country’s largest deep-sea canyons.