Hydrothermal processes at mid‐ocean ridges

Submarine hydrothermal systems are an integral component of crustal construction along the global system of mid-ocean ridges. Thermally-induced circulation of seawater through the permeable parts of the crust and upper mantle has been estimated to account for 34% of the predicted global oceanic heat flux, which in turn comprises close to 25% of the total heat flux of the Earth [Stein and Stein, 1994, and references therein]. Discharge of hydrothermal fluids is manifest along mid-ocean ridges as high temperature (∼200–400°C) focused and lower temperature (<200°C) diffuse fluid flow. Off-axis fluid flow may extend out to the crustal sealing age of 65±10 million years, and may be responsible for more than 70% of the hydrothermal heat flux [Stein and Stein, 1994].

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