Summary
Hydrothermal vents are an important source of dissolved metals to the deep ocean. Recent studies imply that changes in hydrothermal activity at mid-ocean ridges are linked with variations in sea level. The idea is that higher sea levels will increase pressure and reduce hydrothermal activity, while lower sea levels will have the opposite effect. This study will test the hypothesis linking sea level and hydrothermal activity by studying hydrothermal metal fluxes in sedimentary records at different ages in the southern Pacific. The project leverages existing sedimentary materials from NSF-funded
