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Seafloor eruptions and evolution of hydrothermal fluid chemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

By
D. A. Butterfield ,
I. R. Jonasson ,
G. J. Massoth ,
R. A. Feely ,
K. K. Roe ,
R. E. Embley ,
J. F. Holden ,
R. E. McDuff ,
M. D. Lilley  and
J. R. Delaney
Edited by
J. R. Cann ,
H. Elderfield  and
A. S. Laughton
D. A. Butterfield
Affiliation:
Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
I. R. Jonasson
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
G. J. Massoth
Affiliation:
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
R. A. Feely
Affiliation:
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
K. K. Roe
Affiliation:
Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
R. E. Embley
Affiliation:
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Newport, OR 97365, USA
J. F. Holden
Affiliation:
School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
R. E. McDuff
Affiliation:
School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
M. D. Lilley
Affiliation:
School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
J. R. Delaney
Affiliation:
School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
J. R. Cann
Affiliation:
University of Leeds
H. Elderfield
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
A. S. Laughton
Affiliation:
Southampton Oceanography Centre
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Summary

A major challenge confronting geochemists is to relate the chemistry of vented hydrothermal fluids to the local or regional tectonic and volcanic state of mid-ocean ridges. After more than 15 years of sampling submarine hydrothermal fluids, a complex picture of spatial and temporal variability in temperature and composition is emerging. Recent time-series observations and sampling of ridge segments with confirmed recent volcanic eruptions (CoAxial and North Cleft on the Juan de Fu caridge and 9–10° N on the East Pacific Rise) have created a first-order understanding of how hydrothermal systems respond to volcanic events on the seafloor. Phase separation and enhanced volatile fluxes are associated with volcanic eruptions, with vapour-dominated fluids predominating in the initial post-eruption period, followed in time by brine-dominated fluids, consistent with temporary storage of brine below the seafloor. Chemical data for CoAxial vents presented here are consistent with this evolution. Rapid changes in output and composition of hydrothermal fluids following volcanic events may have a profound effect on microbiological production, macrofaunal colonization, and hydrothermal heat and mass fluxes. Size and location of the heat source are critical in determining how fast heat is removed and whether subseafloor microbial production will flourish. Co Axial event plumes may be a direct result of dyking and eruption of lavas on the seafloor.

Type
Chapter
Information
Mid-Ocean Ridges
Dynamics of Processes Associated with the Creation of New Oceanic Crust
 , pp. 153 - 170
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1999

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  • Seafloor eruptions and evolution of hydrothermal fluid chemistry
    • By D. A. Butterfield, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, I. R. Jonasson, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, G. J. Massoth, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, R. A. Feely, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, K. K. Roe, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. Embley, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Newport, OR 97365, USA, J. F. Holden, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. McDuff, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, M. D. Lilley, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, J. R. Delaney, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
  • Edited by J. R. Cann, University of Leeds, H. Elderfield, University of Cambridge, A. S. Laughton, Southampton Oceanography Centre
  • Book: Mid-Ocean Ridges
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511600050.008
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  • Seafloor eruptions and evolution of hydrothermal fluid chemistry
    • By D. A. Butterfield, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, I. R. Jonasson, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, G. J. Massoth, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, R. A. Feely, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, K. K. Roe, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. Embley, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Newport, OR 97365, USA, J. F. Holden, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. McDuff, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, M. D. Lilley, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, J. R. Delaney, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
  • Edited by J. R. Cann, University of Leeds, H. Elderfield, University of Cambridge, A. S. Laughton, Southampton Oceanography Centre
  • Book: Mid-Ocean Ridges
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511600050.008
Available formats
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  • Seafloor eruptions and evolution of hydrothermal fluid chemistry
    • By D. A. Butterfield, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, I. R. Jonasson, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, G. J. Massoth, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, R. A. Feely, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115, USA, K. K. Roe, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. Embley, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Newport, OR 97365, USA, J. F. Holden, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, R. E. McDuff, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, M. D. Lilley, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, J. R. Delaney, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
  • Edited by J. R. Cann, University of Leeds, H. Elderfield, University of Cambridge, A. S. Laughton, Southampton Oceanography Centre
  • Book: Mid-Ocean Ridges
  • Online publication: 04 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511600050.008
Available formats
×