[SEMCO] Dr. Susan Humphris of WHOI

[Teresa Izzo]

[]


PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE 
RELEASE 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
June 24, 
2015 
Teresa Izzo
   508-896-3867 ext. 137
tizzo at ccmnh.org

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History presents
Dr. Susan Humphris of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Hot Rocks and Black Smokers: Exploring Seafloor 
Hot Springs with Submersibles and Robots
.

BREWSTER, MA ­The Cape Cod Museum of Natural 
History in Brewster presents Dr. Susan Humphris 
Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution in the Geology and Geophysics 
Department Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 1pm.

Just over 35 years ago, scientists exploring the 
mid-ocean ridge system made the spectacular 
discovery of black smokers ­ chimney-like 
structures made of metal sulfide minerals that 
vigorously discharge hot, particulate-laden 
fluids into the deep ocean. The ultimate source 
of the fluid venting from these smokers is 
seawater, but the chemistry of the hydrothermal 
fluid is distinctly different. The vent fluids 
are not only far hotter than surrounding 
seawater, they are also more acidic and enriched 
with metals, and have much higher concentrations 
of dissolved gases, such as hydrogen, methane, 
and hydrogen sulfide. The metals transported by 
the fluids frequently form mineral deposits at 
the seafloor, and the dissolved gases support a 
prolific biological community that derives its 
energy from chemical reactions rather than 
sunlight. Through a series of dives to the 
seafloor using different types of deep 
submergence vehicles, we will explore and compare 
hot springs and mineral deposits in the Atlantic, 
Pacific and Indian Oceans, and learn about the 
processes that transform seawater into the 
remarkable fluids that discharge from hydrothermal vents.

In addition to being a research scientist, Dr. 
Humphris has also built a successful career in 
science administration and communication. As a 
senior scientist she has chaired the Marine 
Geology and Geophysics department at WHOI, served 
as vice president of Marine Facilities and 
Operations, and overseen the recent 50th 
anniversary overhaul and upgrade of the submersible Alvin.

The presentation will be held at the Museum Thursday, July 30th at 1pm.

Free with Museum Admission
For more information please call: 508-896-3867, ext. 133

[]

[]



Teresa Izzo
Program Coordinator/Publicist
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
869 Main St./Rte. 6A
Brewster, MA 02631
508-896-3867 x137
508-896-8844 - fax 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/semco/attachments/20150624/d00dc06f/attachment.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 8223 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/semco/attachments/20150624/d00dc06f/attachment.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1516 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/semco/attachments/20150624/d00dc06f/attachment-0001.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip_image006.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 4447 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/semco/attachments/20150624/d00dc06f/attachment-0002.jpg