Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Sonne1	SO207	21.06.2010 - 13.07.2010	SEAMOUNTFLUX	North Pacific Ocean

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Villinger Heinrich	Universitat Bremen - Fachbereich 5 - Geowissenschaften	Caldera	Caldera

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The scientific goal was to study the exchange of matter and energy between the ocean and the upper lithosphere in the vicinity of unexplained circular depressions in the sediment covered seafloor. A possible model for their formation is the dissolution of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals by upward flowing warm fluids, which are CaCO3 under saturated; hence, the term 'hydrothermal pits'. It is suspected that seamounts act as the entrance point for cold seawater, which then thermally and chemically equilibrates with the basaltic oceanic crust prior to exiting through the 'hydrothermal pits'. Such a processes must affect the thermal structure in and around the pits as well as the geochemistry of the pore water. Therefore, we mapped the pits with acoustic methods (bathymetry, sediment echo sounding and single channel seismic) and conducted heat flow measurements inside and outside. Pore water and sediments samples from inside and outside the pits were collected through gravity coring.

Messungen / Measurements