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Deep-water temperatures in the FAMOUS area
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1977
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EngineeringHydrogeophysicsGeomorphologyEarth System ScienceWater-rock InteractionEarth ScienceGeophysicsGround Heat FluxDeep-water TemperaturesGeological DataGeochronologyHydrogeologyMarine GeologyGeographyGeologyCryospherePaleoclimatologyFamous AreaEarth's ClimateU.s. Geological SurveyClimate DynamicsEarth SciencesGeochemistry
Research Article| April 01, 1977 Deep-water temperatures in the FAMOUS area U. FEHN; U. FEHN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. D. SIEGEL; M. D. SIEGEL 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. R. ROBINSON; G. R. ROBINSON 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. D. HOLLAND; H. D. HOLLAND 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. L. WILLIAMS; D. L. WILLIAMS 2Theoretical and Applied Physics, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. J. ERICKSON; A. J. ERICKSON 3Geology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. E. GREEN K. E. GREEN 4Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information U. FEHN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 M. D. SIEGEL 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 G. R. ROBINSON 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 H. D. HOLLAND 1Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 D. L. WILLIAMS 2Theoretical and Applied Physics, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 A. J. ERICKSON 3Geology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 K. E. GREEN 4Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1977) 88 (4): 488–494. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1977)88<488:DTITFA>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation U. FEHN, M. D. SIEGEL, G. R. ROBINSON, H. D. HOLLAND, D. L. WILLIAMS, A. J. ERICKSON, K. E. GREEN; Deep-water temperatures in the FAMOUS area. GSA Bulletin 1977;; 88 (4): 488–494. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1977)88<488:DTITFA>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The distribution of water temperatures in the FAMOUS area was investigated during the years 1972–1974. Forty-seven vertical temperature profiles were taken and bottom-water temperature measurements along 110 km of traverses were carried out during the course of four cruises. Potential temperatures in the FAMOUS area were found to range between 3.53 and 3.85 °C below a depth of 2,200 m. These temperatures are almost 1 °C higher than temperatures outside the axial zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at comparable depths. The potential temperature in deep waters was observed to increase from 3.53 °C in the western part of fracture zone B to 3.80 °C in the eastern part of fracture zone A. Vertical temperature gradients are smaller than 1 × 10−4 °C/m at depths below 2,200 m in the various basins of the FAMOUS area. Between 2,000 and 1,800 m, the temperature differences between the different parts of the area gradually disappear; above 1,500 m, there are no significant differences between water temperatures in the ridge and those in the surrounding ocean.The observed near-bottom temperature distribution in the FAMOUS area is related to the bottom topography. The temperatures in the various basins are determined mainly by their sill depth; the observed south-north increase of deep-water temperatures and the velocity of bottom-water currents in the area can be related quantitatively to hydrologic effects. The influence of hydrothermal activity and of heat flow through the ocean floor on the temperature distribution in the area is neglible. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.