Quantifying widespread hydrothermal chimneys on the East Pacific Rise flanks between 9°43′ and 57′N

TL;DR

Scientists found many hydrothermal vents far from the main ridge on the East Pacific Rise, showing more widespread heat and chemical exchange than previously known.

Contribution

This study reveals that hydrothermal venting extends farther from mid-ocean ridges than previously recognized.

Findings

448 candidate hydrothermal chimneys were identified along a 25-km section of the East Pacific Rise.

Over half of the chimneys are located outside the axial summit trough.

More than 27% of mapped structures are likely actively venting hydrothermal fluids.

Abstract

Hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges drives the exchange of heat and matter from Earth’s interior to the global ocean and supports deep-sea life. Away from the ridge axis, however, the spatial extent of hydrothermal discharge remains enigmatic. Using near-bottom data for a 25-kilometer-long section of the East Pacific Rise between 9°43′N and 9°57′N, we show that considerable hydrothermal flow occurs at variable distances from the ridge axis. Mapping the seafloor and water column along this segment using an autonomous underwater vehicle, we identified 448 candidate hydrothermal chimneys. More than half of them lie outside the axial summit trough, indicating that hydrothermal fluids discharge over a larger area than previously thought. Water column measurements show that >27% of mapped constructs are likely to be venting actively. Our results indicate that widespread active hydrothermal flow occurs over the near-axis region, with important implications for constraining total heat flux along mid-ocean ridges and for identifying previously unexplored benthic habitats.

Near-bottom mapping finds widespread active hydrothermal venting kilometers away from the axis along the East Pacific Rise 9°50'N.

Figures