Tracking the Evolution of a Hydrothermal Event Plume with a RAFOS Neutrally Buoyant Drifter
John E. Lupton,
Edward T. Baker,
Newell Garfield,
Gary J. Massoth,
Richard A. Feely,
James P. Cowen,
Ronald R. Greene,
Thomas A. Rago
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 from the anticyclonic motion of the float.
Concentrations of suspended particles, particulate 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.
J. E. Lupton and R. R. Greene, Pacific Marine
Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Newport, OR 97365, USA.
E. T. Baker, G. J. Massoth, R. A. Feely, Pacific Marine
Environmental Laboratory, NOAA, Seattle, WA 98115, USA.
N. Garfield and T. A. Rago, Naval Postgraduate School, Code OC/GF,
Monterey, CA 93943, USA.
J. P. Cowen, Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii,
Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
