Guaymas Basin
The Guaymas Basin is the largest marginal rift basin located in the Gulf of California. It made up of the northern and southern trough[1] and is linked to the Guaymas Fault to the north and the Carmen Fault to the south. The mid-ocean ridge system is responsible for the creation of the Guaymas Basin and giving it many features such as hydrothermal circulation and hydrocarbon seeps.[2][3] Hydrothermal circulation is a significant process in the Guaymas Basin because it recycles energy and nutrients which are instrumental in sustaining the basin's rich ecosystem.[4] Additionally, hydrocarbons and other organic matter are needed to feed a variety of organisms, many of which have adapted to tolerate the basin's high temperatures.[5][6][7]
Formation
The formation and characteristics of the Guaymas basin are caused by its location on a mid-ocean ridge system, or a range of underwater volcanoes which occur along
Hydrothermal Circulation
Hydrothermal circulation, or the circulation of hot water, is a predominant feature of the Guaymas Basin. Hydrothermalism is mainly observed in the southern trough of the basin where hydrothermal vents make up a hydrothermal complex on the seafloor by creating mounds, chimney structures, and sediments.[7] Hydrothermal circulation happens when water flows downward through broken ocean crust along the volcanic mid-ocean ridge system. After being heated, the water chemically reacts with the host sill. The temperature of the water can rise above 400°C.[4] At this temperature, the water will rise quickly back to the seafloor due to its decrease in density. This circulation of water is crucial to the cycling of energy and nutrients between the ocean crust and the ocean.[4]
Ecosystem
Especially in the southern trough, the Guaymas Basin supports a unique and vibrant
References
- ISSN 1726-4170.
- ^ a b US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "What is the mid-ocean ridge?: Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Ocean Exploration". oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ^ ISSN 0883-2927.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-08-043751-4, retrieved 2023-11-11
- ^ PMID 34112968.
- ^ PMID 32355200.
- ^ PMID 26925032.
- ^ PMID 31554864.
- .
- ISSN 2156-2202.
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