Providing Self-recording Temperature and Attitude Loggers for Hydrothermal Vent Fluid Monitoring at Seafloor and Lacustrine Study Sites

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

The proposed work involves purchase of ten (10), new model, high-temperature (high-T), deepsea hydrothermal vent fluid loggers for use in short- and long-term deployments by scientists in the US oceanographic community involved in Ocean Observing Initiative (OOI), International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) and NSF-EAR research programs. These vent fluid loggers have been developed and improved upon over the past 25 years by the PI and WHOI engineers through the WHOI-MISO Facility (http://www.whoi.edu/miso). These instruments have provided the longest time series records of mid-ocean ridge (MOR) hydrothermal vent fluid temperatures, and key information that enhances understanding of hydrothermal fluid flow processes, linkages to magmatism and tectonism at mid-ocean ridge study sites, and shallow ocean crustal permeability. The new model MISO high-T loggers are now manufactured by EP Oceanographic, LLC (EPO), an oceanographic instrumentation company in Pocasset, MA (USA), as part of a collaborative effort to develop small-business innovation and transfer new technologies and ideas needed for oceanographic research to the private sector.