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Cruise Report for NBP 95-07

The Search for Hydro-Thermal Vents

The second purpose of cruise NBP 95-07 was to search for sources of hydro-thermal venting in the Bransfield Strait. This effort was headed up by Dr. Gary Klinkhammer of Oregon State University and supported by several research scientists, graduate students, and technicians. Information on hydro-thermal venting can contribute to the understanding of the materials and tectonic processes involved in the current deformation of the Bransfield Basin.

Through inspection of the SeaBeam bathymetric images, the OSU group attempted to locate possible sites for hydro-thermal venting. Areas around known volcanic features were common choices. Once at a selected site, the OSU group used equipment to sample the water column. One device, the ZAPS Sled contains a ZAPS, or Zero-Angle Photo Spectrometer, instrument capable of continuous flow measurement of surrounding water for dissolved or total manganese. The ZAPS Sled also contained other instruments to measure temperature, turbidity, and amount of suspended particulate matter. A second device, the Rosette, had many bottles on it that could be closed on command from the surface. This allowed retrieval of water samples from various depths in the water column for later chemical analysis. With these two instruments the OSU group hoped to locate and follow plumes of hydro-thermal water to their source. Preliminary reports indicate that they were successful in locating a few plumes and possibly one source.

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