water sampler;
in situ filtration;
high temperature;
high pressure;
pristine samples;
hydrothermal vents
Abstract:
The Hydrothermal Vent BioSampler (HVB) currently being developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is
designed to collect large-volume hydrothermal vent samples, operating with fluid temperatures reaching 400°C and at vent
depths of up to 6,500 metres. The primary goal of the project is to collect 'pristine' samples untainted by the surrounding
waters. Analysis of the collected samples can reveal the existence of thermophillic organisms within the vent fluid,
extending the upper limits of life with respect to thermo-tolerance. Any biology found at such environments can contribute
to research in astrobiology, while the technology developed for the system can contribute to bio-containment techniques
useful for Arctic and planetary exploration. The HVB performs in-situ filtering of hydrothermal vent fluids to concentrate
a large sample volume to a smaller volume more suitable for transport. The HVB system is currently in the development
phase. This paper provides a physical description of the current system, as well as a summary of the preliminary tests
conducted in 2005 and 2006: pressure chamber tests and a two dive operations at a hydrothermal vent off the northern coast
of Iceland.
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