Kwasnitschka, Tom , Köser, Kevin, Duda, A., Jamieson, John William, Boschen, R., Gartman, A., Hannington, M. D. and Funganitao, C. (2016) Virtual Vents: A Microbathymetrical Survey of the Niua South Hydrothermal Field, NE Lau Basin, Tonga. [Talk] In: AGU Fall Meeting 2016. , 12.-16.12.2016, San Francisco, USA .

Abstract

At a diameter of 200 m, the 1100 m deep Niua South hydrothermal field (NE Lau Basin) was studied in an interdisciplinary approach during the SOI funded Virtual Vents cruise in March of 2016. On the grounds of a previously generated 50 cm resolution AUV multi beam map, the projects backbone is formed by a fully color textured, 5 cm resolution photogrammetrical 3D model. Several hundred smaller and about 15 chimneys larger than 3 m were surveyed including their basal mounds and surrounding environment interconnecting to each other. This model was populated through exhaustive geological, biological and fluid sampling as well as continuous Eh measurements, forming the basis for highly detailed geological structural and biological studies resulting in 3D maps of the entire field. At a reasonable effort, such surveys form the basis for repetitive time series analysis and have the potential of a new standard in seafloor monitoring.

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