Optical methods to monitor temporal changes at the seafloor: The Lucky Strike deep-sea hydrothermal vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Abstract

Newly developed image processing techniques, including gigamosaicing, video-based 3D terrain reconstruction, and video-based fluid velocimetry have provided key information to understand the distribution, nature, and quantification of hydrothermal activity at a deep sea vent field (Lucky Strike, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). These imaging techniques have been coupled with seafloor instrumentation and sampling, allowing us to develop a comprehensive approach to study active processes in the submarine environment that can be transferred to other study areas.