ASHES vent field
Hydrothermal field in the eastern Pacific Ocean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emissions Study or ASHES vent field is a basalt-hosted hydrothermal vent field located on the side of Axial Seamount's caldera at approximately 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) deep.[1] The site is distinct from other hydrothermal ecosystems as a long-term study site of the Ocean Observatories Initiative's Regional Cable Array, one of the few hydrothermal systems with real-time data.[2]
| Axial Seamount Hydrothermal Emissions Study (ASHES) Vent Field | |
|---|---|
| A series of hydrothermal vents atop Axial Seamount. | |
.svg)  | |
| Location | Juan de Fuca Ridge |
| Coordinates | 45°55′35.76″N 129°58′46.2″W |
| Area | 2,826 square metres (30,420 ft2) |
| Min. elevation | 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) |
Protection
Human activity at ASHES is almost entirely scientific, with most impact coming from research expeditions, observatory maintenance, and ROV operations.[3]
As with Axial Seamount, ASHES is located 300 miles (480 km) off the coast of Oregon and as such is classified as a location in the high seas and not a marine protected area.[4]