About

What is SEASAM?

SEASAM is an NSF-funded facility, centered at the University of Washington, that provides scientists across the United States with access to seafloor samples critical for addressing some of the most pressing questions in the geosciences as they connect to the marine environment.

In addition to the University of Washington, the facility is led by a national partnership that includes University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Oregon State University, and Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. SEASAM supports the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) and the Academic Research Fleet (ARF) by coordinating the collection, characterization and archiving of seafloor samples for a wide range of research projects.

Why is it important?

Although hidden beneath miles of ocean, the seafloor holds critical clues to understanding our planet. Scientists study seafloor samples to investigate Earth’s origins, the evolution of life, and the unique chemical and biological processes that sustain deep-sea ecosystems and regulate the properties of ocean water. Seafloor research also helps scientists better understand natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the role of the ocean in storing and releasing the carbon that influences Earth’s climate and the distribution of rare minerals that are increasingly important for modern technologies. By ensuring these samples are collected, preserved and made broadly accessible, SEASAM enables research and discovery otherwise inaccessible in the world’s oceans.

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SEASAM provides researchers with access to specialized seafloor sampling equipment, technical expertise, and resources that support successful oceanographic expeditions. The facility helps connect scientists, technicians, educators, and partners with the tools and knowledge needed to investigate the seafloor and advance ocean discovery.