The Mixing Zephyr Pages
Mixing Zephyr Program
Preliminary Results from Plume Particulate Studies
Preliminary data gathered from the samples taken by the CTD during the
cruise can only be judged from their overall appearance in comparison
to samples gathered on past vents cruises. All samples gathered in the
high rise and main field plumes looked to be of high sulfide origin
dominated by zinc and iron sulfides. Samples taken during searches for
other vent sites indicated lower temperature difuse flows to the north
of high rise, to the north of the new field, and to the east and a
little south of the main field. These samples looked to be of higher
iron content per volume due to the yellow or orange color of the filter
and the lacking of dark colored high temperature sulfide particles.
Samples taken in the vacinity of the new field to the north of high
rise seemed to be a combination of diffuse flow mixed with sulfides,
leading to the conclusion that the north fields total particulate
output of sulfides is small in comparison to high rise or the main
field.
Tow data throughout the cruise showed a shifting of the plume in a
clockwise rotation of approximately 90 degree shifts that seemed to
corelate with low pressure cells in the area. These shifts seemed to
take place in a short time period to be followed by several days of
directional stability. These findings seem to substantiate the
preliminary findings of Cannon and Thompson.
--GL
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