METEOR Expedition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Jun 8, 2023

Hydrothermal vents in 860 meters water depth in the Menez Gwen hydrothermal field southwest of the Azores. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences; University of Bremen — Hydrothermal vents in 860 meters water depth in the Menez Gwen hydrothermal field southwest of the Azores. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen

No two black smokers are alike - this is true for the geology as well as for the fluids that emerge from the hydrothermal vents. Now, an approximately four-week research cruise will start, led by Prof. Wolfgang Bach from MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the university. The aim of the expedition with the research vessel METEOR is to investigate differences between the individual vents and discharge points. This applies both to the chemical composition of the escaping fluids and to the geological framework. In addition, the microorganisms living here, which live either freely or in symbioses at the smokers, will also be investigated.

In addition to already known hydrothermal vents, the 28-member expedition team will also search for previously unknown vents. On board are the diving robot MARUM-QUEST 4000 as well as other scientific equipment for detecting and sampling hydrothermal plumes, i.e. the "steam trails" of hot vents.

The target area is the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. Expedition M 190 is expected to provide key results for the Cluster of Excellence "Ocean Floor" located at MARUM, especially in the question of how geosphere and biosphere interact with each other at the ocean floor.

Participating institutions:

University of Bremen
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology Bremen
Constructor University Bremen

(all MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences of the University of Bremen)

further cooperation partners from the Universities of Münster, Göttingen, Lyon and Toronto as well as the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources

Link to the expedition ship's log

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bach
MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen
Petrology of the ocean crust
Phone: 0421 218-65400
E-mail: [Bitte aktivieren Sie Javascript]

The main work area during the expedition M190.

The red line indicates the route of the research vessel during expedition M190.

Current position of the RV METEOR