Hydrothermal Plume Anomalies Along the East Pacific Rise Near the Equator
Abstract
As the first leg of the first-ever Chinese around-the-globe expedition observations of water column turbidity, temperature and salinity were conducted to investigate the hydrothermal activities along the East Pacific Rise south of the Galapagos triple junction on board Chinese R/V "Da Yang Yi Hao". Measurements were made using NOAA's MARP (Miniature Autonomous Plume Recorder) sensors during CTD casts, TV grabber operations, and long tow-yo transects, which form a long transect of about 400 km along the ridge axis from equator to 3.8oS near the Quebrada FZ. We have observed the following results on hydrothermal plume anomalies: (1) Strong hydrothermal plume anomalies were recorded over the previously discovered hydrothermal vent fields at or near 12o42'N. Sulfide samples were recovered at these vent sites together with video recording of live hydrothermal vent colonies. (2) Significant turbidity anomalies were detected from 0.6oS to 1oS along the East Pacific Rise just south of the equator. The maximum turbidity value was centered at about 0.8oS at a depth of 2,800 m. (3) A few other areas with noticeable turbidity anomalies were also detected during the long tow-yo transect.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AGUFMOS31D1670C
- Keywords:
-
- 0450 Hydrothermal systems (1034;
- 3017;
- 3616;
- 4832;
- 8135;
- 8424);
- 1032 Mid-oceanic ridge processes (3614;
- 8416);
- 8416 Mid-oceanic ridge processes (1032;
- 3614);
- 8424 Hydrothermal systems (0450;
- 1034;
- 3017;
- 3616;
- 4832;
- 8135)