Numerical Simulation Study of Seafloor Hydrothermal Circulation Based on HydrothermalFoam: A Case Study of the Wocan-1 Hydrothermal Field, Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean

Abstract

Deep-sea hydrothermal circulation plays a pivotal role in the material and energy exchange in deep-sea environments, exerting significant influence on the evolution of seawater chemistry and global climate dynamics. Based on existing data and assumptions, this study presents a numerical model tailored for the hydrothermal circulation in the Wocan-1 Hydrothermal Field, Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean. The model successfully simulates the hydrothermal circulation patterns within the oceanic crust, providing detailed insights into temperature distribution, flow field structures, and elemental concentration gradients. Through data analysis of the simulation results, we inferred the depth and temperature of potential heat sources within the Wocan-1 hydrothermal field. The maximum temperature of the heat source Tmax = 823K (550 °C) and the depth of the heat source h = 1 km are possible results. To deepen understanding of the heat source’s impact on fluid temperatures, a sensitivity analysis was conducted. The findings show a positive correlation between both the heat source’s temperature and its depth with the fluid temperature at vent outlets. Regarding elemental transport, this paper offers a preliminary exploration of the kinetic processes in hydrothermal circulation and presents an empirical relationship linking elemental concentrations at the bottom to those at the vent: Cvent = 0.26 Cboundary. This study enhances current numerical models for hydrothermal vents, offering valuable insights for future work and utilization in the Wocan-1 hydrothermal field, and potentially in any other hydrothermal field.

Keywords

• deep-sea hydrothermal circulation
• numerical simulation
• element transport
• Indian Ocean