Publication

2009-11

English

http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-7299.pdf (0.38 Mo)

2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Sarrazin Jozee¹, Rodier Philippe¹, Tivey M. K.², Singh H.², Schultz A.³, Sarradin Pierre-Marie¹

1 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, Dept Etud Ecosyst Profonds, Lab Environm Profond, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
2 : Woods Hole Oceanog Inst, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA.
3 : Coll Ocean & Atmospher Sci, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers (0967-0637) (Elsevier), 2009-11 , Vol. 56 , N. 11 , P. 2065-2074

5

Engineering Sciences, Ecology, Geology, Physical Oceanography

Diffuse flow, Video imagery, Hot film anemometer, Hydrothermal vent, Fluid flow velocity

Numerous attempts have been made over the last thirty years to estimate fluid flow rates at hydrothermal vents, either at the exit of black smoker chimneys or within diffuse flow areas. In this study, we combine two methods to accurately estimate fluid flow velocities at diffuse flow areas. While the first method uses a hot film anemometer that performs high-frequency measurements, the second allows a relatively rapid assessment of fluid flow velocity through video imagery and provides in situ data to calibrate the sensor. Measurements of flow velocities on hydrothermal diffuse flow areas were obtained on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). They range from 1.1 to 4.9 mm/s at the substratum level, in low-temperature (4.5-16.4 degrees C) diffuse flow areas from the Tour Eiffel sulfide edifice. A strong correlation was observed between fluid flow velocities and temperature, supporting the possible use of temperature as a proxy to estimate the flow rates in diffuse flow areas where such a simple linear flow/temperature relation is shown to dominate. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.