Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents

Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area
Part of a 360 °C black smoker chimney of the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents
Map showing the location of Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area
Map showing the location of Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area
Location off the coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada
LocationJuan de Fuca Ridge
British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates47°57′N 129°06′W / 47.950°N 129.100°W / 47.950; -129.100 (Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents)
Area97 km2 (37 sq mi)[1]
DesignationMarine Protected Area
DesignatedMarch 2003
Governing bodyFisheries and Oceans Canada

The Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents (also known as the Main Endeavour Field, MEF, or EHV) are a group of hydrothermal vents in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean, located 260 kilometres (160 mi) southwest of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.[2] The vent field lies 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) below sea level on the northern Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. In 1982, dredged sulfide samples were recovered from the area covered in small tube worms and prompted a return to the vent field in August 1984, where the active vent field was confirmed by HOV Alvin on leg 10 of cruise AII-112.[3][4][5]

The temperatures within the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vent fields differs at the various depths despite some vents being just metres apart. This also has an effect on the different microorganisms and invertebrates that live within the region. In order to best grasp the scale of the EHV region, autonomous vehicles have been deployed to survey the areas and cable systems have been put in place so that that better management practices can be taken. The protected area for the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents is located on the ridge of the Juan de Fuca plate, and the established zone is 100 km2 (39 sq mi).[6]

The vent field falls under Canadian jurisdiction and designated as a Canadian Marine Protected Area.

  1. ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area (MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  2. ^ Leary, David Kenneth (2007). International Law and the Genetic Resources of the Deep Sea. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN 978-9004155008.
  3. ^ Tivey, Margaret K.; Delaney, John R. (1986-04-01). "Growth of large sulfide structures on the endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca ridge". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 77 (3): 303–317. Bibcode:1986E&PSL..77..303T. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(86)90142-1. ISSN 0012-821X.
  4. ^ "Main Endeavour Field | InterRidge Vents Database Ver. 3.4". vents-data.interridge.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  5. ^ "HOV ALVIN DIVES DATA". www.kaggle.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  6. ^ Government of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada. "Information archivée dans le Web" (PDF). publications.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-13.