Collaborative Research: In Situ-Time Series Experiments Defining the Thermal and Compositional Variability in Tidally Perturbed Submarine Hydrothermal Systems

我们的计划将探索在梯度驱动的海底环境中发挥作用的交互式物理化学过程，重点关注胡安·德富卡海岭奋进段热液系统中的三个关键问题。 这些问题包括：1）什么是物理和化学的后果相分离的黑色吸烟者; 2）什么是低温的起源与高温场，但也发生远场的扩散通风流体，以及3）如何可以潮汐扰动被用来探索地下化学和微生物过程中的一个单一的热液领域。 这些问题的调查是很重要的，因为相分离（如沸腾），扩散排气，潮汐强迫在许多，如果不是全部，脊顶热液环境中运作，所有这些过程都可以直接研究在四个热液领域的努力。使用一系列原位物理和化学传感器和一种新的持续流体采样策略，我们将记录流体温度，压力，成分和流速在高温和低温流动区域的潮汐扰动的影响。 我们的目标是开发一系列跨学科模型，将产生这些变化的过程联系起来。 此外，观测到的潮汐效应将提供对整个系统对可识别扰动的反应的深入了解，并使我们能够开发海底下流动模式和渗透性结构的模型。

Our program will explore the interactive physical-chemical processes at play in gradient driven submarine environments by focusing on three key questions within a hydrothermal system on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. These questions include: 1) What are the physical and chemical consequences of phase separation in black smokers; 2) What is the origin of low-temperature diffusely venting fluids that are associated with high-temperature fields, but which also occur far-field, and 3) How can tidal perturbations be used to explore subsurface chemical and microbiological processes within a single hydrothermal field. Investigation of these questions is important in that phase separation (e.g. boiling), diffuse venting, and tidal forcing operate in many, if not all, ridge crest hydrothermal environments; all of these processes are accessible for direct study in the four hydrothermal fields on the Endeavour. Using a range of in situ physical and chemical sensors and a new strategy for sustained fluid sampling, we will document the effects of tidal perturbations in fluid temperature, pressure, composition, and flow rate in areas of both high- and low-temperature flow. Our goal is to develop a series of interdisciplinary models linking the processes that produce these changes. In addition, observed tidal effects will provide insights into the responses of the entire system to identifiable perturbations and may allow us to develop models of subseafloor flow patterns and permeability structure.