PI Country:
USA
PIs:
Resing, J.; Lupton, J.; Embley, R.; Baker, E.; Lilley, M.
Funding:
NOAA
Ocean:
S. Pacific
Région:
Lau Basin
Année:
2008
Start Date:
13-Nov-2008
End Date:
28-Nov-2008 Goal: to characterize hydrothermal activity in the northeast Lau Basin; Findings: 2 eruptions: 1) The first eruption site discovered was on the neovolcanic zone of the southernmost segment of the northeast Lau spreading center (NELSC) at ~1650 m depth; 2) A second site located about 35 km northeast of the NELSC was also very likely erupting lava flows and/or pyroclastic material. This volcano, named West Mata (Samoan for “Eye”), with its summit at ~1300 m, has an intense plume rising ~175 m that is characterized by some of the highest values of turbidity, hydrogen (exceeding 9000 nM), δ3He, oxidation-reduction potential (“Eh”) anomaly, and pH anomaly ever measured in a hydrothermal plume.
Ship:
R/V Thompson
Equipment:
EM300 multibeam sonar, CTD/rosette 
