Sonar observation of diffuse hydrothermal flows

Abstract

Previous studies have used multibeam sonar data to map diffuse hydrothermal flows by exploiting the decorrelation of successive seafloor echoes caused by temperature fluctuations. The present work extends this approach to quantify temperature fluctuations integrated along the sonar line of sight. The method is illustrated using data from the Cabled Observatory Vent Imaging Sonar deployed at the Grotto Vent complex on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Inversion results are presented in the form of the structure function for integrated temperature fluctuations. A three-parameter fit to the structure function provides time series encapsulating statistics of these fluctuations.