Sonar Observation of Heat Flux of Diffuse Hydrothermal Flows

Abstract Previous work using multibeam sonar to map diffuse hydrothermal flows is extended estimate the heat output of flows. In first step toward inversion, temperature statistics are obtained from data and compared thermistor in order set value an empirical constant. Finally, a simple model used obtain heat‐flux density sonar‐derived statistics. The method applied Cabled Observatory Vent Imaging Sonar (COVIS) deployed on Ocean Observatories Initiative's Regional Array at ASHES vent field Axial Seamount. Inversion results presented as maps MW/m 2 time series averaged over COVIS' view.