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Ring of Fire 2007
Submarine Ring of Fire 2007
 NOAA
continued a multi-year series of discovery missions to undersea
volcanoes and hydrothermal vents associated with
the Submarine Ring of Fire, a large but virtually unexplored
province in the Pacific where the Earth’s tectonic plates
are being forced below the Earth’s crust. Accomplishments
include discovery of abundant flows of both gaseous and liquid
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the seafloor, which will
provide a natural deepocean laboratory for studying ocean
sequestration of this greenhouse gas. Regionally, large volumes
of CO2 are affecting the acidity of the water column and the
amounts and cycles of CO2 in seawater.
Newly discovered hydrothermal venting is
producing mineral deposits likely to contain ore-grade concentrations
of precious metals. Because the Mariana Arc hydrothermal fluids
are very different than those associated with seafloor
spreading centers, a large variety of apparently unique ecosystems
have been discovered. The biotechnical and pharmaceutical
value of these organisms is under study.
 The
New Zealand American Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 expedition
will take us to Brothers submarine volcano, a site of vigorous
geothermal activity north of New Zealand along the Kermadec
Arc. We will explore Brothers in great detail using the state-of-the-art
autonomous vehicle ABE. This expedition will mark the most
comprehensive exploration of this type of submarine volcano
to date. We will also be exploring some newly mapped deep
rifts southwest of Brothers. The R/V SONNE will carry
a team of 26 scientists and engineers from New Zealand, Germany
and the U.S. to conduct these explorations. In addition, a
new remotely operated vehicle will be used
for seafloor explorations during the latter part of the expedition
if successfully tested by our German partners.
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