Magma-Hydrothermal Research at Georgia Tech
| Introduction | ![](SPMfig.gif") |
Research on magma-hydrothermal processes has been an integral part of the geophysics program at Georgia Tech since 1971. The program focuses mainly on the development of analytical solutions and numerical simulations that address fundamental processes in seafloor hydrothermal systems, and related magmatic processes.
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 magma-hydrothermal boundary layers, (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, (7) two-phase flow and phase separation, and (8) has also been extended laboratory experiments in fractured geomaterials to Archean hydrothermal processes and hydrothermal activity on Jupiter's moon Europa.
Early work on magmatic processes included studies of double diffusive convection during magma generation and crystallization. More recent work has addressed phreatic eruption mechanisms. Current research on magmatic processes is primarily concerned with the coupled problem crack propagation and magma-hydrothermal heat transfer, the emplacement of magma at ocean ridge axes, and the connections between magma lenses, dike emplacement, and the location of hydrothermal vent sites.
The magma-hydrothermal research program at Georgia Tech is a collaborative effort led by Dr. Robert P. Lowell(full CV), Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Dr. Leonid Germanovich, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition, the group includes:
Research Collaborators:
Dr. Wenyue Xu (wenyue.xu@eas.gatech.edu), Office of Information Technology and School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Research Scientist II
Graduate Students:
Ms. Yufeng Yao (gt6906a@prism.gatech.edu), Research and Web Development Assistant, and Ph.D. student, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Ms. Kayla Lewis (geofleur@sbcglobal.net), Ph.D. student, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Mr. Sawyer Gosnell (gtg590s@mail.gatech.edu), M.S. student, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
Mr. Pierre Ramondenc (pierre.ramondenc@ce.gatech.edu), Ph.d student, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rock and Fracture Group.
Mr. Yang Yang (yang.yang@eas.gatech.edu), Ph.d student, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
Undergraduate Students:
The group has from time to time involved a number of undergraduate research assistants in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
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.
GTHSW
Source Code and Documentation
GTHSW is a finite difference 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 1-1000 bars and 0- 1000°C will be available soon. The code is currently under development by Dr. Wenyue Xu (wenyue.xu@eas.gatech.edu). A downloadable version and necessary documentation will be posted to this site when available.
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.
Some
Projects Planned and Currently Underway