High-resolution AUV mapping and ROV sampling of mid-ocean ridges

Abstract

Since the mid-1980s, eight eruptions have occurred along the Juan de Fuca and Gorda Ridges in the NE Pacific. MBARI has examined seven of them, including the April 2015 eruption at Axial Seamount, using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to map at 1-m lateral resolution and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to observe and sample the lava flows and hydrothermal deposits. We have done similar work on the Alarcon Rise at the mouth of the Gulf of California, where all eruptions pre-date our studies of the ridge system, but are recent enough to host impressive active hydrothermal systems.