Collaborative proposal: Integrated Hydrothermal and Petrological Studies of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center

为了了解从地幔到微生物的弧后扩张中心，“山脊2000”计划选择了位于劳盆地的东劳扩张中心作为综合研究地点。该扩张中心在俯冲影响下呈连续梯度，具有弧后盆地玄武岩的特征，扩张速率变化幅度接近2倍。热液发现是该项目的后勤计划背后的驱动力。之前两次前往扩散中心的巡航将提供水深测量和侧面扫描数据。该项目将使用ROV ABE在穿过中性浮力羽流的深度调查六个目标区域的水柱特性。ABE在水深50米以上的高度潜水，将获得高分辨率的水深测量和水柱测量。ABE在5-10米的高度潜水，然后将提供发现的喷口地点的完整照片覆盖。

The Eastern Lau Spreading Center in the Lau Basin has been chosen an an integrated studies site by the Ridge 2000 program to understand a back-arc spreading center from mantle to microbe. This spreading center has a continuous gradient in the subduction influence that is characteristic of back-arc basin basalts, and the spreading rate changes by nearly a factor of two. Hydrothermal discovery is the driving force behind the logistic plan of this project. Two previous cruises to the spreading center will provide bathymetry and side-scan data. This project will use the ROV ABE to survey six target regions for water column properties at depths that traverse the neutrally buoyant plume. ABE dives at a height above bottom of 50m will obtain high-resolution bathymetry as well as water column measurements. ABE dives at a height of 5-10m will then provide complete photo coverage of the discovered vent sites.