FY 1995 Detection and response to volcanic/hydrothermal events on the mid-ocean ridge Embley, R.W., and C.G. Fox Rev. Geophys., 33(S2), 1307–1310, doi: 10.1029/95RG00554, U.S. National Report to International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics 1991–1994 (1995) The mid-ocean ridge is by far the most continuous volcanic system on the planet, but since it lies beneath more than 2 km of seawater, a thorough study of its thermal and chemical interaction with the ocean remains very difficult Until 1990 (the end of the period covered by the last IUGG report), literally all of our understanding of the dynamics of magmatic accretion on the mid-ocean ridge was based on inferences from (1) geochemical, geophysical, and morphologic studies of long sections of the ridge using a variety of instruments mounted on ships' hulls or towed on long cables near the seafloor, and (2) submersible-based mapping and sampling of small sections of the ridge, particularly hydrothermally active ones. These types of studies have continued to flourish [Parmentier, 1995; Humprhis, 1995], but the past 4 years have also seen the first near-real-time observations of accretion events on two Pacific spreading centers and the development of technology and techniques that can monitor the occurrence and extent of such events over a selected portion of the ridge system. These monitoring capabilities allow interdisciplinary studies of seafloor hydrothermal systems so that the thermal and chemical effects of hydrothermal venting on the oceans can be assessed. Feature Publications | Outstanding Scientific Publications Contact Sandra Bigley | Help
