Abstract

The spatial distribution of venting sites at mid-ocean ridge crest hydrothermal fields, in combination with direct observations of the temperature and velocity of (primarily diffuse) effluent, provides constraints on the circulation of fluids both within exposed hydrothermal edifices and in the seafloor below. Before any constraints can be placed on either the interior structure of these bodies or the associated heat and mass transfer between them, their role in controlling the flow needs to be investigated. A simplified finite difference forward model of an idealized sulphide edifice allows the calculation of the interior velocity and temperature distributions and, more importantly, observation of the effect that the flow-governing components have on the circulation. Changes in permeability structure and in basement heat and mass fluxes have an important effect on the flow.