First direct hydrothermal heat flux measurements at Tagoro submarine volcano, El Hierro Island: preliminar results
Tagoro is one of the few worldwide submarine volcanoes that satisfies the following features: i) is an intraplate and shallow- water volcano; ii) comprises diffuse low-temperature hydrothermal fields; and iii) its physical-chemical and biological characteristics that have been monitored since its fi...
| Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | other |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repository: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/332047 |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/332047 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Heat flux hydrothermal events particle-tracker device Tagoro submarine volcano El Hierro Island |
| Summary: | Tagoro is one of the few worldwide submarine volcanoes that satisfies the following features: i) is an intraplate and shallow- water volcano; ii) comprises diffuse low-temperature hydrothermal fields; and iii) its physical-chemical and biological characteristics that have been monitored since its first eruption in 2011. Despite a decade of widespread investigation, there is still a gap of knowledge on Tagoro volcano hydrothermal system. Hence, this preliminary research aims to report a precise estimation on the amount and distribution of hydrothermal vents, as well as an estimative quantification of the heat and nutrient fluxes associated therein. The hydrothermal vents distribution was determined through video imagery recorded by the Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Liropus-2000 during four oceanographic expeditions in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021 on board the R/V Ángeles Alvariño. Moreover, fluid flow velocities were estimated using a previously proposed sampling technique involving a custom-built particle-tracker device, designed to be manipulated by ROV Liropus-2000 on the hydrothermal areas. This device was deployed during oceanographic cruises in 2021 and 2022 on board the R/V Ángeles Alvariño. Lastly, hydrothermal fluids were sampled directly from vents using a piston-driven suction device coupled to the ROV Liropus-2000 during the 2022 cruise. Preliminary results highlight the remarkably vast richness and complexity of the Tagoro hydrothermal system, which is generally distributed in the main crater and main cone. The system is composed of various morphologies including diffuse- discharge fields, crevices and very fragile chimneys. Additionally, our results show important heat outflows into the ocean, ranging from 200 to 580 MW. This comprehensive study contributes to the broadening knowledge of the magnitude of hydrothermal activity at Tagoro submarine volcano and builds a reference for further studies. |
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