METEOR M186

The objective of cruise M186 is to explore possible hydrothermal fluid sources on the Azores Plateau. On cruise M113 geophysical and on M141/1 and M162 first geochemical evidence for the existence of such fluid systems could be found. Based on the available data, we assume that there are up to five sediment hosted hydrothermal systems on the Azores Plateau.The aim of cruise M186 is to study these systems in more detail and to understand (1) how they are driven, (2) what is the geochemical composition of the fluids, (3) the role of the fluids in global matter cycles, and (4) how the existence of the fluid systems affects microbiological and benthic communities. For this purpose we use the gravity core, the heat flow probe, an OFOS, a CTD, as well as 2D seismics. In particular, we expect to gain new insights into the fluid genesis of sediment hosted hydrothermal systems, but also into the potential impact on global elemental balances and the distribution of benthic organism communities in association with hydrothermally influenced areas in the deep sea