Magma-Hydrothermal Research at Virginia Tech
Research on magma-hydrothermal processes has been an integral part of my research
since I originally joined the faculty at Georgia Tech in 1971. I moved to
Virginia Tech in 2006, but still have strong links with Dr. Leonid Germanovich
in the
Early research on seafloor hydrothermal systems addressed the role of hydrothermal circulation in causing conductive heat flow anomalies on the seafloor. More recent work has addressed: (1) the operation of high temperature systems at ocean ridge crests (black smokers), (2) heat transfer across the magma-hydrothermal boundary layer, (3) the role of thermoelastic stresses and mineral precipitation on the evolution of permeability, (4) the formation of event plumes, (5) the relationships between focused and diffuse venting, (6) the role of serpentinization reactions in driving hydrothermal circulation and affecting crustal deformation, (7) two-phase flow and phase separation, (8) hydrothermal processes in the Archean, (9) microbial-hydrothermal interactions, and (10) modeling of hydrothermal processes on Europa, Mars, and elsewhere in the solar system.
Early work on magmatic processes included studies of double diffusive convection during magma generation and crystallization and phreatic eruption mechanisms. Current research on magmatic processes is primarily concerned with (1) models of dike emplacement and connection between diking, seismicity and hydrothermal circulation, and (2) models that link magma convection, crystallization and replenishment to hydrothermal heat output.
The magma-hydrothermal research program at Virginia Tech is a collaborative effort led by Dr. Robert P. Lowell(full CV), Research Professor, Department of Geosciences and Dr. Leonid Germanovich, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition, the group includes:
Research Collaborators:
Dr. Erin Kraal, Virginia Tech; Dr. Kayla Lewis, University of Chicago; Dr. Grant Garven, Tufts University; Dr. Meg Tivey, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Dr. Daniela D’Iorio, University of Georgia
Current Graduate Students:
Ms. Kate Craft, Ph.D. student, Department of Geosciences (Virginia Tech)
Mr. Liang Han, Ph.D. student, Department of Geosciences (Virginia Tech)
Ms. Lei Liu, Ph.D. student,
Ms. Gence Genc, Ph.D. student,
Undergraduate Students:
The group has from time to time involved a number of undergraduate research assistants. Former students from Georgia Tech have included Susan Keller and Myesha DuBose. Recent students from Virginia Tech include Cara Heberling, Kylin Cummings, and Josh Hoover
Alumni: (under construction)
Recent Publications
GTH Source Code and Documentation
GTH is a finite difference code for studying two-phase flow in pure water hydrothermal systems. The code was developed by Dr. Wenyue Xu (wenyue.xu@eas.gatech.edu). The code can be downloaded by clicking either of the download links below. These link to "tar" files that contain the directory structure, source files, Makefile, and example data files. The compressed version (gth.tar.Z) is smaller than 2 Mb and the uncompressed version (gth.tar) is smaller than 7 Mb. The compressed version can be expanded using the "uncompress" command, standard on most versions of unix. Once the file is saved onto the target machine and uncompressed, its files need to be extracted (using "tar -xvf gth.tar") The user manual can be viewed by following the "documentation" link below.
FISHES
Source Code and Documentation
FISHES (Fully Implicit Seafloor Hydrothermal Event Simulator) is a control volume code for studying two-phase flow and phase separation in a NaCl-H2O hydrothermal system. Equations of state for the system over the P-T range of 85-1000 bars and 0- 800°C are currently implemented and the P-T range will be expanded in the near future. Currently the code operates in 1 and 2-D spatial geometries, with intent to expand to 3-D capabilities. For further information contact Dr. Kayla Lewis (Kayla Lewis geofleur@sbcglobal.net). To download FISHES and the user’s guide you may use the link: http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~kaylal/ and click on “downloads”. The code and user’s guide will be updated periodically. Look for information under “News”.
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To help educate scientists and students in the basics of modeling seafloor hydrothermal systems, we have constructed a simple interactive modeling website based on the single pass hydrothermal model depicted above. (This area is under construction)
Some
Projects Planned and Currently Underway
- Two-phase flow in NaCl-H2O hydrothermal systems and phase separation in seafloor hydrothermal systems
- The response of seafloor hydrothermal systems to earthquakes
- Modeling brine formation and hydrothermal processes on Mars
- Hydrothermal processes on Mars and the evolution of stepped fans
- Dike propagation from subseafloor magma chambers and shallow crustal structure at ocean ridge axes
- Laboratory experiments on flow in fractured geomaterials
- Serpentinization of peridotite and deformation at ocean ridges
- Modeling convection, crystallization, and replenishment of magmas beneath oceanic spreading centers
- Advective heat flow and
modeling hydrothermal processes at the
- Diffuse flow circulation and its interactions with biological ecosystems