Nutrient Pathways from the Abyss: Hydrothermal Influence on Surface Ecosystems in the Southern Ocean

Hydrothermal vents in the waters surrounding Antarctica have long been dismissed as insignificant sources of surface micronutrients due to their depth—typically 2000–4000 meters—and presumed isolation from surface processes. In this lecture Casey will present recent field observations and remote sensing data from the Southern Ocean that reveal that hydrothermal effluent can reach the sunlit surface within weeks, delivering iron-rich fluids that stimulate phytoplankton growth. These findings challenge prevailing models of nutrient supply, circulation, and carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean, highlighting a previously underestimated role for deep-sea hydrothermal systems.