Tracking the Evolution of a Hydrothermal Event Plume with a RAFOS Neutrally Buoyant Drifter

摘要

The migration and evolution of a deep ocean hydrothermal event plume were tracked with a neutrally buoyant RAFOS float. The float remained entrained in the plume for 60 days, and the plume vorticity was calculated directly form the anticyclonic motion of the float. Concentrations of suspended particles, particularte iron, and dissolved manganese in the Plume did not decay significantly during the 60 days, which indicates that event plumes Would be easily detectable a year after formation.