North of British Columbia’s Marble Canyon Provincial Park, tucked away between towering picturesque mountains, sits a pristine alpine paradise called Pavilion Lake. It’s not easy to get to—almost a three hour drive up from Whistler—but it holds irresistible secrets that have enticed scientists to return year after year to study one of the most delicate and informative prehistoric biological structures: freshwater microbialites.
In partnership with Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation, a community that holds a deep and profound cultural connection to Pavilion Lake, astrobiologists from NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have been keen to study the fascinating world of microbialites. These ancient stone structures are the remnants of micro-organisms unique to the region which could be upwards of 3 billion years old. By offering a glimpse into an unfathomably ancient past, microbialites open up endless possibilities for scientific discoveries that might support future space exploration and the search for extra-terrestrial life.
Considering first and foremost the integrity of the biological structures and the delicate ecosystem of the lake, Mission Manager Donnie Reid and his team chose to augment their recent underwater exploration with robotic underwater vehicles. For this mission the SEAMOR Marine Chinook, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), operated as an underwater drone to collect samples, and relay Kongsberg Flexview sonar imaging with minimal disturbance. In collaboration with the SEAMOR Marine team, a new specialized water sampler was developed and tested for use on this specific mission by Chris Roper. Further, an auxiliary underwater drone camera was equipped on the Chinook provided HD video feed for researchers to review and analyze following each dive.
Donnie Reid seeks to celebrate, and protect the natural treasure that is Pavilion Lake for future researchers to explore. Changing climates and invasive species both threaten to disturb or even destroy the sensitive microbialite deposits, so these efforts are essential and urgent. It is our hope that SEAMOR Marine’s Chinook ROV continues to support further remote research in this ecologically sensitive area as future generations of scientists look below the lake’s surface for answers about Earth’s mysterious past.
To find out more about how you can use a SEAMOR ROV to See More. Do More. Protect More.