Precise Measurement of the Heat Flux from a Hydrothermal Vent System

热液系统的本质是通过对流流体传递热量。尽管传热发挥了这一核心作用，但对海底热液系统的热通量及其随时间变化的了解却少得可怜。对于Juan de Fuca Ridge上的Main Endeavour Field (MEF)，现有的估计差异很大（从-100兆瓦到-10000兆瓦），并且有很大的不确定性（通常跨越一个数量级）。自主底栖探险家（ABE）将配备传感器来测量上升的热液羽流的速度、温度和盐度。ABE的一系列潜水数据将提供精确的、重复的热通量测量，实现不确定性优于20%。这些潜水活动将辅以在类似空间尺度上进行的水文测量工作方案。

The very essence of a hydrothermal system is transfer of heat by a convecting fluid. Despite this central role played by heat transfer, there exists a woefully poor knowledge of the flux of heat from seafloor hydrothermal systems and its variation through time. For the well-studied Main Endeavour Field (MEF) on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, existing estimates vary widely (from -100 to -10000 MW) and have large uncertainties (often spanning an order of magnitude). The Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) will be equipped with sensors to measure the velocity, temperature and salinity of rising hydrothermal plumes. Data from a series of ABE dives will provide precise, replicate measurements of the heat flux, achieving uncertainty better than 20%. These dives will be complemented with a program of hydrographic work conducted at comparable spatial scales.