Collaborative Research: 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，Ridge 2000计划选择了刘盆地的东部刘扩张中心作为一个综合研究地点。在弧后盆地玄武岩的俯冲影响中，这个扩张中心具有连续的梯度，扩张速度变化了近两倍。热液发现是该项目后勤计划背后的推动力。之前两次前往扩散中心的巡航将提供水深测量和侧向扫描数据。该项目将使用水下机器人ABE在横穿中性浮力羽流的深处调查六个目标区域的水柱特性。安倍晋三潜入海底50米以上的高度将获得高分辨率的水深测量和水柱测量。然后，安倍将在5-10米的高度潜水，提供所发现的喷口地点的完整照片。

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.