The 24th IAHR-APD Congress (24th IAHR-APD Congress)

72 / 2023-12-29 17:30:15

Experimental study on hydrothermal plume under stratified environment and background flow

Deep-sea hydrothermal plume,Particle image velocimetry technology,Background flow environment,Maximum elevation,Turbulence characteristics

Deep-sea hydrothermal plumes provide the fundamental materials and energy conditions for the formation of vent ecosystems, playing an important role in global energy exchange and material cycling. However, the effects of ocean stratification and background flow make the dynamic environmental characteristics of deep sea water complex. Deep sea background flows will transport hydrothermal plumes and their carrying substances over long distances, and the mechanism of their impact on the rise and diffusion of submarine hydrothermal plumes and their particulate matter is not yet clear. To address this critical issue, this study developed a hydrothermal plume experimental device with a variable background flow field, which is mainly divided into four parts: stratified environment water body generation device; background flow simulation device; hydrothermal plume outflow device; hydrothermal plume observation system. Based on this device, we conducted experimental research on hydrothermal plumes under different background flow conditions in a linear stratified environment. We use particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology to observe the flow field structure of the plumes and analyze key dynamic characteristics such as diffusion distance, maximum rise height, and plume bending angle of the hydrothermal plumes under different background flow fields. The experiment shows that the hydrothermal plume undergoes three stages: vertical movement, rising to maximum height and falling back, and oscillation in the neutral buoyancy layer; The higher the background flow velocity, the lower the maximum rise height and neutral buoyancy layer height, the more inclined the plume is to one side, and the greater the bending angle. The research results deepen the understanding of the diffusion mechanism of hydrothermal plumes in the actual deep-sea environment, and can provide support for plume diffusion and particle migration, mineral exploration, and biological community tracking in the actual deep-sea environment.