Studies of Hydrothermal Processes
in Crater Lake, Oregon - extracted from OSU College of Oceanography
Report #90-7
Conclusions
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As a result of more than three years of field studies and our interpretation of
these and other data from the literature, we conclude that there are active
inputs of hydrothermal fluids into the bottom of Crater Lake. The dissolved
materials associated with these thermally and chemically enriched fluids,
coupled with the overall hydrologic balance, control the observed chemical
composition of the lake. Because the hydrothermal input dominates the flux of
most dissolved chemicals into Crater Lake, the hydrothermal process is highly
significant. Furthermore, the geothermal inputs have a direct effect on the
density structure of the deep lake, and therefore can profoundly affect the rate
of heat transport and the redistribution of dissolved salts and nutrients within
the body of the lake.
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Primary
funding for this project was provided by the U.S. National Park Service (Pacific
NW Region, Cooperative Agreement # 9000-3-0003, subagreement #7). Additional
support was provided by the OSU College of Oceanography, the OSU Foundation, the
US Geological Survey, and the National Geographic Society. Other contributions
to this work were made by: H. Phinney, D. McIntire, G. Larson, M. Buktenica,
Oregon State University; C. R. Bacon, C. H. Nelson, J. H. Barber, Jr., U.S.G.S.;
D. Karl, U. Hawaii; J. Lupton, NOAA PMEL; M. Watwood, C. Dahm, U. of New Mexico;
A. Soutar, R. Weiss, U. C. San Diego; C. G. Wheat, MBAR
