LADDER III, AT15-26

PI Country: 
USA, Austria
PIs: 
Mullineaux, L.; Thurnherr, A.; Ledwell, J.; McGillicuddy, D.; and Lavelle, W.
Institution: 
WHOI; LDEO; NOAA
Funding: 
NSF
Ocean: 
N. Pacific
Région: 
N EPR
Année: 
2007
Start Date: 
13-Nov-07
End Date: 
3-Dec-07

LADDER stands for LArval Deep Dispersal on the East Pacific Rise; Bio-1) What are the influences of advection and eddy diffusion on the maximal dispersal distance of vent species with given larval life spans?; Bio-2) What are the effects of ontogenetic changes in larval behavior (i.e., vertical positioning) on species' dispersal distances?; Bio-3) How are the probabilities that larvae will be lost from the ridge system influenced by topography and flow? Might the axial summit trough inhibit off-axis transport of larvae, and serve as a conduit between habitable vent sites?; PO-1) What are the mean and temporally varying flows in the vicinity of a mid-ocean ridge crest, and what is their spatial structure and coherence?; PO-2) What is the magnitude of the diapycnal diffusivity near the ridge crest?; PO-3) How rapid is lateral dispersion, and how effective is lateral homogenization by eddy diffusion near the ridge crest?

Ship: 
R/V Atlantis
Equipment: 
submersible Alvin, sediment traps, plankton pumps, CTD, current meters, LADCP
Contact: 
[email protected]