Controls of bathymetric relief on hydrothermal fluid flow at mid-ocean ridges.

Bani Hassan, Nasser, Iyer, Karthik , Rüpke, Lars H. and Borgia, Andrea (2012) Controls of bathymetric relief on hydrothermal fluid flow at mid-ocean ridges. Open Access Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 13 . Q05002. DOI 10.1029/2012GC004041.

[thumbnail of 2012GC004041.pdf]
Preview
Text
2012GC004041.pdf - Published Version

Download (1MB)

Supplementary data:

Abstract

We present quantitative modeling results for the effects of surface relief on hydrothermal convection at ocean-spreading centers investigating how vent site locations and subsurface flow patterns are affected by bathymetry induced sub-seafloor pressure variations. The model is based on a 2-D FEM solver for fluid flow in porous media and is used to simulate hydrothermal convection systematically in 375 synthetic studies. The results of these studies show that bathymetric relief has a profound effect on hydrothermal flow: bathymetric highs induce subsurface pressure variations that can deviate upwelling zones and favor venting at structural highs. The deviation angle from vertical upwelling can be expressed by a single linear dependence relating deviation angle to bathymetric slope and depth of the heat source. These findings are confirmed in two case studies for the East Pacific Rise at 9°30′N and Lucky Strike hydrothermal fields. In both cases, it is possible to predict the observed vent field locations only if bathymetry is taken into account. Our results thereby show that bathymetric relief should be considered in simulations of submarine hydrothermal systems and plays a key role especially in focusing venting of across axis hydrothermal flow onto the ridge axis of fast spreading ridges.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Geodynamics; Volcanology; Lucky Strike ; bathymetry ; hydrothermal convection ; vent location
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-MUHS
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-JRG-B3 Seabed Resources
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union)
Projects: Future Ocean
Date Deposited: 10 May 2012 10:04
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 19:58
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/14270

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item