SGER Proposal: Rare Research Opportunity to Study Geotectonic Fluids in Bransfield Strait and Scotia Arc, Antarctica

9731695 Klinkhammer该奖项支持俄勒冈州州立大学（OSU）的研究人员参加德国海洋研究船POLARSTERN到南极海洋的探险（POLARSTERN巡航ANT-XV/2）。 以前OSU的研究人员在美国南极计划的支持下确定了布兰斯菲尔德海峡的几个热液喷口区域。 这一发现对热液喷口动物的地理学、矿床的地质演化以及地球的化学和热量收支具有重要意义。 先前的工作在勘测水平上从喷口上方取样了水和颗粒。 随后对这些样本进行的化学分析使人们得以深入了解海底喷口喷出的流体的化学性质。 POLARSTERN巡航提供了一个独特的机会，可以在布兰斯菲尔德海峡的这些发现的基础上再接再厉，促进未来在布兰斯菲尔德地区的国际工作，将热液活动研究扩展到南极半岛地区的其他地区，并与一个强大的国际团体建立工作关系。 特别是，POLARSTERN考察提供了以下机会：1）对布兰斯菲尔德热液区水体中的水和悬浮颗粒物进行额外采样 2）为了确定热液活动的更广泛的地理范围，将按照德国方案的总主题，即从斯科舍-布兰斯菲尔德系统排出流体，将勘察扩大到斯科舍弧和海沟地区;以及3）使用POLARSTERN上可用的独特工具，例如摄像机滑橇和抓斗底部取样器。 这项工作将有助于更好地确定热液喷口的位置，并开始量化这种热液活动排出的水量。 如果能精确定位喷口，海底照片有望揭示与这些海底温泉有关的可能的生物群落。

9731695 Klinkhammer This award supports participation of Oregon State University (OSU) researchers in an expedition of the German oceanographic research vessel POLARSTERN to the Antarctic Ocean (POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XV/2). Previous OSU researchers supported by the US Antarctic Program identified several areas of hydrothermal venting in the Bransfield Strait. This discovery has important implications to the biogeography of vent animals, the geological evolution of ore deposits, and the chemical and heat budgets of the Earth. The previous work sampled water and particles from above the vent sites at a reconnaissance level. Subsequent chemical analyses of these samples provided insight into the chemistry of fluids emanating from vents on the sea floor. The POLARSTERN cruise affords a unique opportunity to build on these discoveries in the Bransfield Strait, foster future international work in the Bransfield area, extend research on hydrothermal activity to other parts of the Antarctic Peninsula region, and develop a working relationship with a strong international group. In particular, the POLARSTERN expedition provides the opportunity for: 1) additional sampling of water and suspended particulate matter in the water column over the Bransfield hydrothermal sites this sampling would be aided by German photographic reconnaissance; 2) reconnaissance, to determine the broader geographical extent of hydrothermal activity, would be extended to the Scotia Arc and trench areas following the general theme of the German program which is fluid expulsion from the Scotia- Bransfield system; and 3) the use of unique tools available on the POLARSTERN such as a camera sled and grab bottom sampler. This work will make it possible to better define the location of hydrothermal vents and to begin to quantify the amount of water being expelled by this hydrothermal activity. If vents can be precisely located, the bottom photography holds the promise of revealing possible biologic al communities associated with these submarine hot springs.