Hydrothermal fluids circulating at the world's mid-ocean ridges provide fundamental clues to first-order chemical exchange processes occurring in the mantle and crust between seawater and the ocean crust. These fluids provide essential nutrients to hydrothermally based ecosystems and constitute a crucial component of many oceanic elemental budgets. This project archives hydrothermal vent fluid samples from over 32 cruises from nine different mid ocean ridge vent systems collected by Dr. Karen Von Damm prior to her untimely demise from cancer. Samples include time series fluids from visits to the East Pacific Rise (EPR) 9-10 N vents, over a time interval of two volcanic eruption cycles. High quality datasets, associated analytical modeling and interpretations for many hydrothermal systems, especially those along the EPR that were generated by Dr. von Damm will also be archived in NSF-funded databases. The work also involves properly archiving existing fluid samples collected prior to 2004 and establishing a mechanism for handling and distributing requests for samples. Broader impacts of the work include support of two early career faculty whose gender is under-represented in the sciences.
