Ahyi Vent

Latitude: 20.438οN      Longitude: 145.029οE      Summit depth: 64 m bsl

Ahyi seamount is an active submarine arc volcano located in the Northern Seamount Province (Baker et al., 2008). This seamount erupted in April-May 2014, following the eruptions in 1979 and 2001 (Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program). Evidence of eruptions in the form of thick plumes of particles suggests that Ahyi is extremely hydrothermally active and that the source of the activity is located near 150 m depth (Submarine Ring of Fire, 2014). One of the unusual benthic platyctenid ctenophores was documented during Okeanos explorations at Ahyi Seamount.

Table 1: Operations history for Ahyi vent

Ship/ PlatformOperationYearReferences
R/V RevelleCTD sensor2014 DecemberSubmarine Ring of Fire, 2014
RR1413 R/V Roger Revelle/ JasonXBT, Multibeam re-survey, CTD, EM122 multibeam logging2014Submarine Ring of Fire 2014-Ironman
TN-153 R/V T. G. ThompsonEM300 multibeam bathymetry2004Submarine Ring of Fire 2004
TN-153 R/V T. G. ThompsonEM 300 multibeam; CTD vertical cast2003 February – MarchSubmarine Ring of Fire 2003
EX1605/Deep Discoverer 2016 June (Leg 3) 5Okeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary

Table 2: Vent activity and host rocks

Activity and Host RocksReferences
ActivityActiveBaker et al., 2008; Embley et al., 2004; Embley et al., 2014
Last known eruption 2014 MaySmithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
Host RocksBasaltBloomer et al., 1989; Embley et al., 2007; Resing et al., 2009

Table 3: Vent fluid characteristics

Activity and Host RocksReferences
Temperature (οC)Low T (<100οC)Embley et al., 2007
CompositionSmall 3He anomalyResing et al., 2009
Δ3He (fM)0.07Resing et al., 2009

Table 4: Vent Biology

General namePhylumClass / OrderFamilyGenus/SpeciesReferences
EukaryotaComb jelliesCtenophoraTentaculataPlatyctenidaOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
Cusk eelChordataOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
DuckbillChordataOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
FlatfishChordataOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
OctopusMolluscaOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
Sand tiger sharkChordataOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
Sea slugMolluscaGastropodOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
AnemoneCnidariaAlicia ?Okeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
ShrimpArthropodaOkeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary
Snake mackerelChordataRexea ?Okeanos Explorer 2016 dive summary

 Images:

Video Links:

References:

  • Baker, E. T., Embley, R. W., Walker, S. L., Resing, J. A., Lupton, J. E., Nakamura, K., de Ronde, C. E. J., Massoth, G. J., 2008. Hydrothermal activity and volcano distribution along the Mariana arc: Journal of Geophysical Research 113 (B8), 1-16.
  • Embley, R. W., Baker, E. T., Chadwick, W. W. JR., Lupton, J. E., Resing, J. A., Massoth, G. J., Nakamura, K., 2004. Explorations of Mariana Arc. Eos 85 (4), 37-44.
  • Embley, R. W., Baker, E. T., Butterfield, D. A., Chadwick, W. W. Jr., Lupton, J. E., Resing, J. A., de Ronde, C. E. J., Nakamura, K., Tunnicliffe, V., Dower, J. F., Merle, S. G., 2007. Exploring the submarine ring of fire: Mariana Arc- Western Pacific, Oceanography 20, 68–79.
  • Embley, R., Tamura, Y., Merle, S., Sato, T., Ishizuka, O., Chadwick, W., Wiens, D., Shore, P., Stern, R., 2014. Eruption of South Sarigan Seamount, Northern Mariana Islands: Insights into Hazards from Submarine Volcanic Eruptions. Oceanography 27 (2), 24-31.
  • Resing, J. A., Baker, E. T., Lupton, J. E., Walker, S. L., Butterfield, D. A., Massoth, G. J., Nakamura, K., 2009. Chemistry of hydrothermal plumes above submarine volcanoes of the Mariana Arc. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 10 (2), 1-23.

Website References:

Cruise Reports: