Raman amplification in an optically high-powered data link dedicated to a 10 km long extension for submarine cabled observatories

We describe a quasi-all-optical extension dedicated to simplifying the deployment of submarine cabled observatories. Based on power-over-fiber technologies, high power supply and data are both transmitted in one optical fiber of a few kilometers in length. We study the Raman amplification on the down-and up-stream data in the static regime with the high optical power varying from 100 mW to 4 W over a 10 km long single-mode optical fiber. We focus on the data optical budget and signal to noise ratio dependence with respect to the high optical power value and the data optical wavelength. We also present the transmission quality in the dynamic regime of this quasi-all-optical extension

On the early fate of hydrothermal iron at deep-sea vents: A reassessment after in situ filtration

Deep-sea hydrothermal venting is now recognized as a major source of iron (Fe), an essential trace element that controls marine productivity. However, the reactions occurring during dispersal from buoyant plumes to neutrally buoyant hydrothermal plumes are still poorly constrained. Here we report for the first time on the dissolved-particulate partition of Fe after in situ filtration at the early stage of mixing at different hydrothermal discharges, i.e., Lucky Strike (37 degrees N), TAG (26 degrees N), and Snakepit (23 degrees N) on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We found that hydrothermal iron is almost completely preserved (>90%) in the dissolved fraction, arguing for low iron-bearing sulfide precipitation of iron in basalt-hosted systems with low Fe:H2S ratios. This result can only be explained by a kinetically limited formation of pyrite. The small part of Fe being precipitated as sulfides in the mixing gradient (<10%) is restricted to the inclusion of Fe in minerals of high Cu and Zn content. We also show that secondary venting is a source of Fe-depleted hydrothermal solutions. These results provide new constrains on Fe fluxes from hydrothermal venting