Modeling Effects of Hydrothermal Venting on the Benthic Ocean |
Goal: Accomplishments: |
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Modeling Focuses |
Local Scale Convection- | |||
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Buoyant
plumes in cross flows |
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Event
Plumes
Line Source Event Plumes-An event plume is formed by the sudden, short-lived release of heat from line-segment sources, fissures created during tectonic events. |
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Regional
Scale Flow and Transport- |
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Transport
in the axial valley
Effects of Current Variablity on Plume Distribution-The time-varying nature of composite plumes in the North Cleft axial valley has been examined using an analytic model and measured currents. |
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Flow
over Ridges and Seamounts
The influence of ridge topography on flow and on the regional transport of hydrothermal discharge is being investigated with Gaia. |
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Geochemical
Transport- |
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Particle
Transport and Deposition
Deposition of hydrothermal manganese occurs preferentially within 100 km of the ridge axis (triangles). The process involves two stages: bacterial scavenging of dissolved Mn followed by the scavenging of bacteria by rapidly settling macroaggregates. |
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Hydrographic-Tracer Relationships- | |||
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Tracers Volume integrals of megaplume heat anomalies and thus the estimate of heat released during a megaplume event depend on anomaly definition. Total heat flux estimates based on temperature anomalies defined as the difference between plume and ambient values for points of equal density do not represent the actual total flux from hydrothermal events. |
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Future Plans |
Examine transport of hydrothermal plumes off the ridge using the regional scale circulation model and regional current data, particularly in relation to the plume measured following the large, recent event at Axial volcan o. Extend studies of circulation and transport of hydrothermal signals from ridge crest to even larger length scales.
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