Collaborative Research: Hydrothermal System Response to Magma Supply and Crustal Thickness Gradients Along the Galapagos Spreading Center, 89.5-94W

University South Carolina Research Foundation, Columbia SC

Investigators

Abstract

The PIs will carry out a field experiment along the Galapagos Spreading Center (GSC) to investigate the response of the hydrothermal-geological-biological system along the ridge crest to large, hotspot-induced, along-strike gradients in magma supply and crustal thickness/structure. The GSC is known to exhibit increases in magma supply and crustal thickness toward the center of the Galapagos mantle plume (GMP) influence at 91.5 W, and is thus an ideal natural experiment on how magma supply and crustal thickness affect the nature, abundance, and distribution of ridge crest hydrothermal activity, and interactions between hydrothermal, volcanic, tectonic, and biological processes. Sonar, water-column, and visual surveys along the GSC, 89.5 W-94 W, are proposed to establish the distribution and nature of hydrothermal activity, and to test a variety of competing models. The field experiment will involve a one-leg interdisciplinary program of surveys and plume sampling (Leg 1: EM-300 sonar survey followed by DSL-120 sonar + autonomous plume sensor surveys, and CTD/rosette plume sampling.