Abstract:
The overarching aim of cruise M162 was to find out if seismically active oceanic fracture zones like the Gloria Fault are places of active fluid circulation that could represent a link between fluid flow processes between mid-ocean ridges and continental margins. The verification of active fluid flow along the Gloria Fault is relevant with respect to (i) the relationship between fluid flow and seismic activity, (ii) the spread of (chemoautotrophic) ecosystems in the abyssal ocean, (iii) the control of fluids on the strength of the fault interfaces, and/or (iv) the role of fluids in triggering or supporting high magnitude fracture
zone earthquakes. Specifically, the following key tasks were to (i) find out if there are sites of active fluid discharge along the Gloria Fault (and more general along transform faults and oceanic fracture zones) and (ii) to constrain the origin of the fluids and decipher processes involved, (iii) search for evidence for ongoing serpentinization, (iv) find indications for
existing deep-sea chemoautotrophic ecosystems along the fault system, and (v) analyse the sedimentary record with respect to paleo-seismic events.
