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Project Progress

This project is an on-going study of the microbial and geochemical changes associated with seafloor eruptions at mid-ocean ridges. The intrusion of a magma dike into the neovolcanic zone of a mid-ocean ridge is the “quantum” event in the accretion of the upper ocean crust. Such ridge axis diking/eruptive events are episodic perturbations that trigger a sequence of interrelated and rapidly evolving physical, chemical, and biological processes associated with the formation of ocean crust. Volcanic activity produces hydrothermal discharge with a distinct geochemical signature, and triggers specific geochemical and microbial responses in the adjacent crust and overlying water-column. Significant change in a variety of processes take place over limited time spans. In effect, diking-eruptive events offer short-term natural “experiments” unachievable in the laboratory. Observing and quantifying co-variation among related processes provides basic new constraints on presently immature models of submarine volcano-hydrothermal systems.

Last year we were able to respond to evidence of a recent eruption near 9°50’ N along the East Pacific Rise (EPR). UHNAI coInvestigator Cowen led the expedition as chief scientist and project PI. Two UHNAI postdoctoral fellows (Brian Glazer and Andrew Boal) joined the research team. The expedition documented the eruption of an extensive new lava flow using towed near-bottom digital camera (TowCam); and also documented the presence of extensive anomalous particle/thermal/chemical plumes in the water column indicating the recent/ongoing discharge of massive amounts of heat and chemicals;