Heat and Fluid Flux through Sediment on the Western Flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge - a Hydrogeological Study of North Pond

Publication Status is "Submitted" Or "In Press: 
LDEO Publication: 
Publication Type: 
Year of Publication: 
1992
Editor: 
Journal Title: 
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal Date: 
Mar 3
Place Published: 
Tertiary Title: 
Volume: 
19
Issue: 
5
Pages: 
517-520
Section / Start page: 
Publisher: 
ISBN Number: 
0094-8276
ISSN Number: 
Edition: 
Short Title: 
Accession Number: 
ISI:A1992HH09100023
LDEO Publication Number: 
Call Number: 
Abstract: 

A comprehensive survey of heat flow, sediment thickness and bathymetry in a large intermontane sediment pond on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (North Pond) shows that only 20 to 25% of the heat escaping from the lithosphere flows through the sediments in the pond even though they completely cover a 70 km2 area of the seafloor. Three in situ pore-pressure gradient measurements gave values that were negative relative to hydrostatic, indicating that there is drawdown of water through the sediment at rates of 1 to 5 mm/yr. North Pond is a recharge zone for hydrothermal circulation that is probably driven by lateral pressure gradients produced by topographic relief.

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Hh091Times Cited:25Cited References Count:18

DOI: