Cs. Chin et al., DETECTION OF HYDROTHERMAL PLUMES ON THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE -RESULTS FROM OPTICAL MEASUREMENTS, Earth and planetary science letters, 162(1-4), 1998, pp. 1-13
Several water column surveys conducted on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ri
dge have been instrumental in the discovery of three new hydrothermal
venting sites, and seven other active segments. Hydrothermal sources h
ave yet to be pinpointed in six of these segments. In this study, the
observed frequency of high-temperature venting from 23 degrees N to 41
degrees N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), a distance of approximatel
y 1900 km, is one venting system per 150 km of ridge. Combining these
data with those of other investigators for the region from 12 degrees
N to 41 degrees N leads to an approximate venting frequency of one sit
e per 90 km of ridge, although venting frequencies on sections of the
MAR within this region are as high as one site per 25 km. To support t
his frequency of venting, and considering the larger dimensions of the
MAR rift valley, the ratio of axial to off-axis heat loss must be hig
her on the MAR than on faster spreading ridges. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scie
nce B.V. All rights reserved.