Submarine volcanoes and high-temperature hydrothermal venting on the Tonga arc, southwest Pacific

Stoffers, Peter; Worthington, T.J.; Schwarz-Schampera, Ulrich; Hannington, Mark D.; Massoth, Gary J.; Hékinian, Roger; Schmidt, Mark; Lundsten, Lonny; Evans, L. J.; Vaiomounga, Rennie; Kerby, Terry

doi:10.1130/g22227.1

Cited by 99 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…5.3) at a seafloor pressure of 171 bar (Bischoff and Rosenbauer, 1985). The observed flashing and variability in dissolved major element and gas concentrations between multiple fluid samples collected at F3 (Table 5.1) are consistent with active boiling and partial segregation of a 2-phase emulsion of immiscible vapor/brine during venting at the seafloor (Bischoff and Pitzer, 1985;Hannington et al, 2001;Stoffers et al, 2006). Measured exit temperatures (Fig.…”

Section: Phase Separation and CL Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Fluids at F3 vent exhibited a 'flashing' phenomenon whereby exiting fluid was highly reflective under ROV lighting, but changed to smoke-like precipitate a few cm above the orifice. The phenomenon can be attributed to vigorous two-phase fluid venting (Massoth et al, 1989;Hannington et al, 2001;Stoffers et al, 2006). At a depth of 1710m (~171bar pressure) the fluid at F3 lies on the 2-phase boundary for a 3.2wt.% NaCl solution (Bischoff and Rosenbauer, 1985) consistent with subcritical boiling (Fig.…”

Section: Temperaturementioning

confidence: 92%

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Laboratory and field-based investigations of subsurface geochemical processes in seafloor hydrothermal systems

Reeves¹

2010

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This thesis presents the results of four discrete investigations into processes governing the organic and inorganic chemical composition of seafloor hydrothermal fluids in a variety of geologic settings. Though Chapters 2 through 5 of this thesis are disparate in focus, each represents a novel investigation aimed at furthering our understanding of subsurface geochemical processes affecting hydrothermal fluid compositions. Chapters 2 and 3 concern the abiotic (nonbiological) formation of organic compounds in high temperature vent fluids, a process which has direct implications for the emergence of life in early Earth settings and sustainment of present day microbial populations in hydrothermal environments. Chapter 2 represents an experimental investigation of methane (CH 4 ) formation under hydrothermal conditions. The overall reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to CH 4 , previously assumed to be kinetically inhibited in the absence of mineral catalysts, is shown to proceed on timescales pertinent to crustal residence times of hydrothermal fluids. In Chapter 3, the abundance of methanethiol (CH 3 SH), considered to be a crucial precursor for the emergence of primitive chemoautotrophic life, is characterized in vent fluids from ultramafic-, basalt-and sediment-hosted hydrothermal systems. Previous assumptions that CH 3 SH forms by reduction of CO 2 are not supported by the observed distribution in natural systems. Chapter 4 investigates factors regulating the hydrogen isotope composition of hydrocarbons under hydrothermal conditions. Isotopic exchange between low molecular weight n-alkanes and water is shown to be facilitated by metastable equilibrium reactions between alkanes and their corresponding alkenes, which are feasible in natural systems. In Chapter 5, the controls on vent fluid composition in a backarc hydrothermal system are investigated. A comprehensive survey of the inorganic geochemistry of fluids from sites of hydrothermal activity in the eastern Manus Basin indicates that fluids there are influenced by input of acidic magmatic solutions at depth, and subsequently modified by variable extents of seawater entrainment and mixing-related secondary acidity production. CHAPTER 1 IntroductionSeafloor hydrothermal systems associated with the generation of oceanic crust represent a dramatic expression of heat and mass transfer from the interior of the Earth. In addition to profound effects on ocean chemistry, convective circulation of seawater through volcanically active oceanic crust leads to the formation of metal sulfide deposits. In addition, seafloor hot springs are often invoked as ideal settings from which early microbial life could have emerged.Since the initial discovery of low temperature venting at the Galápagos Spreading Center in 1977 (CORLISS et al., 1979), our understanding of the composition and diversity of hydrothermal solutions has expanded greatly. During convection through oceanic crust of basaltic composition, O 2 -replete seawater reacts with crustal rock, typically producin...

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Section: Phase Separation and CL Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Temperaturementioning

confidence: 92%

Laboratory and field-based investigations of subsurface geochemical processes in seafloor hydrothermal systems

Reeves¹

2010

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“…those of the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Pacific where extensive submarine hydrothermal systems have been described e.g. in the areas of Tonga [125,126], However these geothermal systems have yet been exploited despite the fact that temperatures range from 245-265°C and their easy accessibility at depths of only 385-540 m [127,128] and a distance of only 50 km from Tongatapu [125]. The same is true for the region of the Northern Marianas Islands where high heat flux of submarine systems has been reported along the Mariana arc [125,129].…”

Section: Submarine Geothermal Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renewable energy-driven desalination technologies: A comprehensive review on challenges and potential applications of integrated systems

et al. 2015

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Despite the tremendous improvements in conventional desalination technologies, its wide use is still limited due primarily to high energy requirements which are currently met with expensive fossil fuels. The use of alternative energy sources is essential to meet the growing demand for water desalination. In the last few decades a lot of effort has being directed in the use of different renewable energy (RE) sources to run desalination processes. However, the expansion of these efforts towards larger scale plants is hampered by several techno-economic challenges. Several medium-scale RE-driven desalination plants have been installed worldwide. Nevertheless, most of these plants are connected to the electrical grid to assure a continuous energy supply for stable operation. Furthermore, RE is mostly used to produce electric power which can be used to run desalination systems. This review paper focusses on an integrated approach in using RE-driven with an emphasis on solar and geothermal desalination technologies. Innovative and sustainable desalination processes which are suitable for integrated RE systems are presented. An assessment of the benefits of these technologies and their limitations are also discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, hydrothermal vents also occur on volcanic seamounts, mostly known from the western and southwestern Pacific (e.g. Stoffers et al 2006, Embley et al 2007), but less well studied than those on mid-ocean ridges.On seamounts, it has long been considered that assemblages of benthic invertebrates are characterized by endemicity and high diversity . However, increased sampling effort and genetic studies are now indicating amongseamount variation in the magnitude of population connectivity that depends on physical and geological characteristics of the seamounts and larval characteristics of the organisms , Shank 2010.…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial patterns of larval abundance at hydrothermal vents on seamounts: evidence for recruitment limitation

Meta×as¹

2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Because of their ephemeral nature and patchy distribution, hydrothermal vents on mid-ocean ridges are newly colonized by allochthonous larval sources after catastrophic eruptions, but their hydrothermal benthic invertebrate populations are maintained by local larval supply. In the present study, I examined spatial patterns of larval abundance and associated adult assemblages at hydrothermal vents on 3 seamounts each at the Mariana Arc and Kermadec-Tonga Arc. Because seamounts are topographically distinct features on the ocean floor, colonization processes may differ from those on mid-ocean ridges. On every seamount, the chemosynthetically based macro-epifaunal populations were patchy, spatially constrained and consisting of 1 to 3 numerically dominant taxa that differed among locations within a seamount and among seamounts. Larval abundance was generally greater at 2−7 m above the sea floor than 20−30 m higher, and in 5 of the 6 seamounts, it was lower than has been measured at the same elevations in previous studies on mid-ocean ridges. I examined changes in vertical distribution in experiments using 2 vent species of gastropod larvae hatched from egg capsules collected in situ. For Shinkailepas cf. kaikatensis, larvae were initially more abundant near the water surface, but were more abundant near the bottom 3 d after hatching, whereas for Shinkailepas n. sp., they remained near the bottom for the duration of the experiment. The observed larval distributions in the field and experiments suggest high larval retention, which can result in high local recruitment, but low colonization of new locations within or among seamounts. In combination with gregarious settlement and potentially limited habitat availability, low colonization is likely to give rise to the paucity of the adult chemosynthetic assemblages observed in the present study, and effect recruitment limitation beyond the local source population of vent species on highly disturbed seamounts that are volcanically active. KEY WORDS:Marine benthic invertebrates · Larval abundance · Larval behaviour · Vertical distribution · Propagule source · Chemosynthetic communities · Volcanic seamounts Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 437: [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117] 2011 Hydrothermal vents harbour distinct assemblages of benthic invertebrates that are mostly endemic and adapted to the unique conditions of the habitat, such as high temperature, pressure, H 2 S and metal concentrations, and acidic conditions (Van Dover 2000). Additionally, vents are ephemeral and unstable habitats that may experience catastrophic disturbances, such as repaving and substrate collapse during an eruption, or chronic disturbances through the continuous modification of the speed and chemical composition of the hydrothermal fluid (Haymon et al. 1993, Embley et al. 1999, Butterfield et al. 2004). These disturbances can occur on temporal scales of hours to decades, and spat...

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Submarine volcanoes and high-temperature hydrothermal venting on the Tonga arc, southwest Pacific

Cited by 99 publications

References 8 publications

Laboratory and field-based investigations of subsurface geochemical processes in seafloor hydrothermal systems

Laboratory and field-based investigations of subsurface geochemical processes in seafloor hydrothermal systems

Renewable energy-driven desalination technologies: A comprehensive review on challenges and potential applications of integrated systems

Spatial patterns of larval abundance at hydrothermal vents on seamounts: evidence for recruitment limitation

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