Hydrothermal Circulation and Seawater Chemistry: Links and Feedbacks

Exploring how oceanic hydrothermal systems influence seawater chemistry

The chemical exchange between seawater and the underlying ocean crust occurs at temperatures ranging from about 2°C on the seafloor to more than 500°C deep in the crust. These hydrothermal reactions strongly influence the chemical composition of seawater and, in turn, seawater chemistry impacts hydrothermal exchange; these feedbacks play a crucial role in the Earth system.

Hydrothermal Circulation and Seawater Chemistry: Links and Feedbacks explores on- and off-axis hydrothermal systems and their effects on ocean chemistry and the Earth system.

Volume highlights include:

• Hydrothermal fluxes dependent on boundary conditions such as climate and sedimentation history
• Low-temperature, off-axis systems that have large fluxes of elements
• Observational and experimental perspectives of on-axis hydrothermal processes
• Methods for tracking hydrothermal and oceanic processes using sediments or isotope proxies
• The role of oceanic hydrothermal systems in planetary-scale cycles on Earth and beyond

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