Analysis of Temperature and Biological Data from Diffuse-Flow Hydrothermal Vents on the East Pacific Rise (9 degrees 49'-51'N): Continuing Time Series Studies

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

High resolution biological observations and samples have been collected approximately yearly over the nine year perod since the 1991 eruption near 9 degrees 50 inutes north on the East Pacific Rise. Continuous temperature records have been collected over the same time period from low-temperature diffuse flow sites and high temperature chimneys. The biological time-series data will be analyzed to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize the temporal and spatial changes in vent community structure. Multiple temperature records within individual difuse-flow sites will be analyzed and compared with those from all of the other diffuse-flow sites.