Recent oceanographic surveys by Dr. Charles Paull and others along the West Florida Escarpment discovered cold water brine seeps that support chemosynthesis in isolated biologic communities, and contribute to erosion at the base of the carbonate platform. Evidence is mounting that the spectacular discharge of hot vent waters along spreading ridges may be volumetrically dwarfed by discharge along continental margins. Dr. Speiss has been awarded funds to conduct a Deep-Tow survey in collaboration with Dr. Paull to extend investigations of suspected brine seeps to the eastern side of Florida. Two regions will be surveyed: a salt diapir on the continental rise off Georgia, and the base of the Blake-Bahama Escarpment. The diapir breaches the seafloor, and will be examined to establish the chemistry of pore fluids and sediments brought to the seafloor, and to determine the effects of this discharge on local erosion and biology. The nature of erosion will be examined along the precipitous Blake-Bahama Escarpment, and the possible contributions of tectonic, bottom current, and chemical destruction will be evaluated.
