Kairei vent field

The Kairei vent field is a hydrothermal vent field located in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 2,460 metres (8,070 ft). It is just north of the Rodrigues Triple Junction, approximately 2,200 kilometres (1,400 mi) east from Madagascar.[1] It is the first hydrothermal field discovered in the Indian Ocean and the first of the series of known vents along the Central Indian Ridge.

Kairei Vent Field
A series of vents at the Rodrigues Triple Junction.
Map of the Rodrigues Triple Junction.
Map showing the location of Kairei Vent Field
Map showing the location of Kairei Vent Field
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates25°19′10″S 70°02′24″E
Area40–100 square metres (430–1,080 sq ft)
Max. elevation−2,460 metres (−8,070 ft)

History

The vent field was discovered in 2000 by the R/V Kairei and ROV Kaikō operated by Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC).[2] In 2001, the site was surveyed with high resolution prior to the deployment of ROV JASON.[3][4]

The vent field was visited again by JAMSTEC in 2009 on the YK09-13 cruise, where the HOV Shinkai6500 was deployed.

Geology

The field is dominated by sulfide talus, with the approximate area of high-temperature venting constrained to approximately 40 square meters. Fluids from the vent field have been measured in excess of 360 °C (680 °F) and are rich in metals, providing a black-smoker appearance. Elevated chlorinity in venting fluids suggests that phase-separation happens deep below the field.[4]

Biology

The Kairei vent field is one of the few known locations of the Sea Pangolin, threatened by deep sea mining.[5] It is also a site associated with Gigantopelta aegis and Alviniconcha strummeri gastropods.[6]

It is the site of discovery of Rimicaris kairei, belonging to the family of hydrothermal shrimp found at many sites in the Atlantic Ocean.[7]

Carbon and nitrogen isotopes suggest that there are four distinct trophic levels at the Karei vent field.[3]

Kairei is also of concern with respect to research on deep sea dispersal pathways, with some shared biological communities to those neighboring vent fields (Edmond, Solitaire, DoDo).[8]

References
  1. "Kairei Field". vents-data.interridge.org.
  2. Hashimoto, Jun; Ohta, Suguru; Gamo, Toshitaka; Chiba, Hitoshi; Yamaguchi, Toshiyuki; Tsuchida, Shinji; Okudaira, Takamoto; Watabe, Hajime; Yamanaka, Toshiro; Kitazawa, Mitsuko (July 2001). "First Hydrothermal Vent Communities from the Indian Ocean Discovered". Zoological Science. 18 (5): 717–721. doi:10.2108/zsj.18.717. S2CID 85582014.
  3. Van Dover, C. (October 2002). "Trophic relationships among invertebrates at the Kairei hydrothermal vent field (Central Indian Ridge)". Marine Biology. 141 (4): 761–772. doi:10.1007/s00227-002-0865-y. S2CID 189819863.
  4. Gallant, R. M.; Von Damm, K. L. (June 2006). "Geochemical controls on hydrothermal fluids from the Kairei and Edmond Vent Fields, 23°-25°S, Central Indian Ridge: CONTROLS ON HYDROTHERMAL FLUIDS". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 7 (6): n/a. doi:10.1029/2005GC001067. S2CID 129145462.
  5. Sigwart, Julia; Conversation, The. "Sea Pangolin: The first ever species endangered by potential deep sea mining". phys.org.
  6. Fleming, Amy (26 February 2020). "One scientist's mission to save the 'super weird' snails under the sea". The Guardian.
  7. Watabe, Hajime; Hashimoto, Jun (October 2002). "A New Species of the Genus Rimicaris (Alvinocarididae: Caridea: Decapoda) from the Active Hydrothermal Vent Field, "Kairei Field," on the Central Indian Ridge, the Indian Ocean". Zoological Science. 19 (10): 1167–1174. doi:10.2108/zsj.19.1167. PMID 12426479. S2CID 11838878.
  8. Beedessee, Girish; Watanabe, Hiromi; Ogura, Tomomi; Nemoto, Suguru; Yahagi, Takuya; Nakagawa, Satoshi; Nakamura, Kentaro; Takai, Ken; Koonjul, Meera; Marie, Daniel E. P. (16 December 2013). "High Connectivity of Animal Populations in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Fields in the Central Indian Ridge Relevant to Its Geological Setting". PLOS ONE. 8 (12): e81570. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...881570B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0081570. PMC 3864839. PMID 24358117.
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