A one-kilometer-diameter carbonate/hydrate mound in Mississippi Canyon Block 118 has been chosen to be the site of a multi-sensor, multi-discipline sea-floor observatory. Several surveys have been carried out in preparation for installing the observatory. The resulting data set permits discussing the mound’s structure in some detail. Samples from the water column and intact hydrate outcrops show gas associated with the mound to be thermogenic. Lithologic and bio-geochemical studies have been done on sediment samples from gravity and box cores. Pore-fluid analyses carried out on these cores reveal that microbial sulfate reduction, anaerobic methane oxidation, and methanogenesis are important processes in the upper sediment. These microbial processes control the diffusive flux of methane into the overlying water column. The activity of microbes is also focused within patches near active vents. This is primarily dependent upon an active flux of hydrocarbon-rich fluids. The geochemical evidence suggests that the fluid flux waxes and wanes over time and that the microbial activity is sensitive to such change. Swath bathymetry by AUV combined with sea-floor video provides sub-meter resolution of features on the surface of the mound. Seismic reflection profiling with source-signature processing resolves layer thicknesses within the upper 200-300m of sediment to about a meter. Exploration-scale 3-D seismic imaging shows that a network of faults connects the mound to a salt diapir a few hundred meters below. Analyses of gases from fluid vents and hydrate outcrops imply that the faults act as migration conduits for hydrocarbons from a deep, hot reservoir. Source-signature-processed seismic traces provide normal-incidence reflection coefficients at 30,000 locations over the mound. Picking reflection horizons at each location allows a 3-D model of the mound’s interior to be constructed. This model provides a basis for understanding the movement of fluids within the mound.

Ce mémoire de thèse est consacré à l’étude d’une liaison tout-optique longue de 10 km dédiée à l’extension d’un observatoire câblé de fond de mer existant afin d’atteindre de nouvelles zones d’exploration. Les travaux de recherche qui y sont rapportés démontrent la faisabilité de cette liaison tout-optique entre un instrument déporté et une station terrestre avec une seule fibre optique longue de 10 km, qui transmet simultanément la puissance, nécessaire à l’alimentation de l’instrument (quelques centaines de milliwatts), et des données bidirectionnelles en temps réel.Le contexte de cette thèse est présenté au travers d’un état de l’art sur les observatoires câblés et sur la puissance sur fibre. Le choix de la fibre unique et la présence de fortes puissances optiques complexifient la mise en oeuvre de cette extension tout-optique, et sont à l’origine de l’apparition d'interactions entre l’énergie optique dédiée à l'alimentation (@1480 nm) et les données échangées (@1550 nm). Tout au long de ce document, les choix technologiques retenus sont argumentés et les effets optiques non linéaires tels que les diffusions Raman, Brillouin, Rayleigh, l’Émission Spontanée Amplifiée (ASE) sont décrits, modélisés et analysés expérimentalement. L’extension tout-optique proposée a été caractérisée à la fois en régimes statique et dynamique par des mesures du bilan de liaison, du rapport signal à bruit (SNR) et du taux d’erreur binaire (BER). Les résultats obtenus montrent la possibilité de fournir 160 mW électrique à l’instrument déporté en utilisant une source optique continue de 33 dBm sans dégrader excessivement les données bidirectionnelles transmises simultanément (BER<10-7). / This thesis is devoted to the study of a 10 km long all-optical network dedicated to extend a current cabled seafloor observatory, in order to reach new exploration areas. The research work described in this thesis demonstrates the feasibility of this all-optical link between a remote instrument and a shore station with a single 10 km long optical fiber, which simultaneously transmits the energy required to supply the instrument (several hundred milliwatts) and bidirectional data in real time.The thesis context is presented trough an analysis of the cabled seafloor observatories and of the power-over-fiber. The choice of a single optical fiber and the presence of high optical power complicate the implementation of this all-optical extension, and they cause the appearance of interactions between the optical energy dedicated to the power supply (@1480 nm) and the exchanged data (@1550 nm). Throughout this document, the technological choices are explained and the optical nonlinear effects are described, simulated and analyzed experimentally, such as Raman, Brillouin, and Rayleigh scattering and Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE). The proposed all-optical extension has been characterized in static and dynamic regimes with measures of the optical link budget, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and the Bit Error Ratio (BER). The results show the possibility to power the remote instrument with 160 mW, when using a continuous high optical laser source of 33 dBm without huge degradation of the bidirectional data transmitted simultaneously (BER<10-7).

Les sources hydrothermales sont localisées le long des dorsales médio-océaniques et des bassins arrière-arcs. Elles abritent une faune spécialisée dont le développement repose sur la chimiosynthèse microbienne, possible grâce aux éléments réduits présents dans le fluide hydrothermal. Alors que les liens entre les assemblages fauniques et les habitats ont relativement bien été décrits autour du globe, notre connaissance de la dynamique temporelle de ces écosystèmes demeure encore limitée, et particulièrement sur ces échelles de temps cohérentes avec la biologie des organismes (de quelques minutes à plusieurs années). Sur l’exemple des communautés hydrothermales inféodées à la dorsale Juan de Fuca, située dans le nord-est de l'océan Pacifique, ce mémoire vise à comprendre le fonctionnement et la dynamique temporelle des communautés de macrofaunes hydrothermales associées aux assemblages de vers Siboglinidae Ridgeia piscesae à travers le couplage de l'échantillonnage et d'une approche observatoire fond de mer. Cette étude a d’abord permis la description quantitative (composition, diversité et biomasse) de six assemblages de siboglinidés sur l’édifice hydrothermal Grotto (champ Main Endeavour, dorsale Juan de Fuca) et d’évaluer la structure trophique de ces communautés à l’aide des isotopes stables. Les résultats obtenus ont permis d’identifier 36 taxons, caractérisés par une importante diversité de polychètes et une forte densité de gastéropodes. Les assemblages de R. piscesae les plus développés présentaient des diversités plus importantes et des réseaux trophiques plus complexes. La coexistence des espèces au sein des structures biogéniques formées par R. piscesae s’expliquerait par un fort partitionnement des niches écologiques et des ressources nutritionnelles. L'analyse des images vidéo recueillies par le module écologique d’observationTEMPO-mini, déployé sur l’édifice Grotto au sein de l’observatoire câblé Ocean Networks Canada, a permis d’étudier la dynamique temporelle de ces espèces en suivant les variations de l'abondance de la macrofaune hydrothermale quotidiennement pendant une année, et toutes les 4 heures pendant un mois d’été et deux mois d’hiver. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence une influence significative du cycle semi-diurne de la marée et des tempêtes de surface hivernale sur la distribution de deux espèces mobiles et non-symbiotiques (pycnogonides Sericosura sp. et polychètes Polynoidae). La dynamique locale des courants océaniques semble affecter périodiquement le mélange entre les émissions de fluides hydrothermaux et l'eau de mer environnante, modifiant les conditions environnementales au sein de l’habitat.Cette étude suggère que les espèces hydrothermales répondent à ces modifications de l'habitat en ajustant leur comportement. Finalement, dans un contexte où l’observation et l’imagerie prennent une place importante dans l’étude des écosystèmes profonds, cette thèse a permis d'optimiser les techniques d'imagerie vidéo dans l'extraction des données écologiques et dans la recherche des cycles naturels. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats apportent des informations nouvelles et précieuses dans notre compréhension du fonctionnement et de la dynamique des communautés hydrothermales profondes et ouvre de nouvelles voies de recherches pour l'écologie des écosystèmes marins profonds en général. / Hydrothermal vents are distributed along mid-ocean ridges and back-arc basins. These ecosystems harbour a specialized fauna supported by a local chemosynthetic microbial production, made possible through the oxidation of reduced elements present in the hydrothermal fluid. While the relationships between faunal assemblages and habitats have been relatively well described around the globe, our knowledge on the temporal dynamics of these environments is still limited, particularly at time scale relevant to organisms (from few minutes to several years). Based on hydrothermal vent communities occurring on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, located in the northeast Pacific Ocean, this thesis aims at understanding the functioning and temporal dynamics of macrofaunal communities associated with the Siboglinidae Ridgeia piscesae tubeworm assemblages through the coupling of sampling and seafloor observatory approach. This study first allowed the quantitative description (composition, diversity and biomass) of six siboglinid species assemblages on the Grotto hydrothermal edifice (Main Endeavour, Juan de Fuca Ridge) and the assessment of the trophic structure of these communities using stable isotopes. The results enabled the identification of 36 taxa. An elevated polychaete diversities and high densities of gastropods characterized all assemblages. The most developed R. piscesae assemblages exhibited greater diversity and more complex food webs. The species coexistence within the biogenic structures created by R. piscesae could be explained by a strong partitioning of ecological niches and nutritional resources. The analysis of video images gathered by the ecological observatory module TEMPO-mini, deployed on the Grotto edifice on the cabled observatory OceanNetworks Canada, provided information on the temporal dynamics of the assemblage. The abundance variations of four macrofaunal species were tracked at a daily frequency during one year and every 4 hours during one summer and two winter months. Our results highlighted a significant influence of the semi-diurnal tidal cycle and winter surface storms on the distribution of two mobile and non-symbiotic taxa (Sericosura sp. pycnogonids and Polynoidae polychaetes). The local ocean dynamics seemed to periodically affect the mixing between hydrothermal fluid inputs and surrounding seawater, therefore modifying environmental conditions in vent habitats. This study suggests that hydrothermal species respond to these habitat modifications by adjusting their behaviour. Finally, considering the increased importance of observational and imagery approaches in the study of deep-sea ecosystems, this thesis proposes a guideline and methodology in order to optimise video imagery methods both for the extraction of ecological data and the search of natural cycles. Overall, these results bring novel and valuable information to help understand the functioning and dynamics of deep-sea hydrothermal communities and opens new research avenues for deep-sea ecology in general.

Seafloor compliance is a non-intrusive geophysical method sensitive to the shear modulus of the sediments below the seafloor. A compliance analysis requires the computation of the frequency dependent transfer function between the vertical stress, produced at the seafloor by the ultra low frequency passive source-infra-gravity waves, and the resulting displacement, related to velocity through the frequency. The displacement of the ocean floor is dependent on the elastic structure of the sediments and the compliance function is tuned to different depths, i.e., a change in the elastic parameters at a given depth is sensed by the compliance function at a particular frequency. In a gas hydrate system, the magnitude of the stiffness is a measure of the quantity of gas hydrates present. Gas hydrates contain immense stores of greenhouse gases making them relevant to climate change science, and represent an important potential alternative source of energy. Bullseye Vent is a gas hydrate system located in an area that has been intensively studied for over 2 decades and research results suggest that this system is evolving over time. A partnership with NEPTUNE Canada allowed for the investigation of this possible evolution. This thesis describes a compliance experiment configured for NEPTUNE Canada’s seafloor observatory and its failure. It also describes the use of 203 days of simultaneously logged pressure and velocity time-series data, measured by a Scripps differential pressure gauge, and a Güralp CMG-1T broadband seismometer on NEPTUNE Canada’s seismic station, respectively, to evaluate variations in sediment stiffness near Bullseye. The evaluation resulted in a (- 4.49 x10-3± 3.52 x 10-3) % change of the transfer function of 3rd October, 2010 and represents a 2.88% decrease in the stiffness of the sediments over the period. This thesis also outlines a new algorithm for calculating the static compliance of isotropic layered sediments.

Seafloor compliance is a non-intrusive geophysical method sensitive to the shear modulus of the sediments below the seafloor. A compliance analysis requires the computation of the frequency dependent transfer function between the vertical stress, produced at the seafloor by the ultra low frequency passive source-infra-gravity waves, and the resulting displacement, related to velocity through the frequency. The displacement of the ocean floor is dependent on the elastic structure of the sediments and the compliance function is tuned to different depths, i.e., a change in the elastic parameters at a given depth is sensed by the compliance function at a particular frequency. In a gas hydrate system, the magnitude of the stiffness is a measure of the quantity of gas hydrates present. Gas hydrates contain immense stores of greenhouse gases making them relevant to climate change science, and represent an important potential alternative source of energy. Bullseye Vent is a gas hydrate system located in an area that has been intensively studied for over 2 decades and research results suggest that this system is evolving over time. A partnership with NEPTUNE Canada allowed for the investigation of this possible evolution. This thesis describes a compliance experiment configured for NEPTUNE Canada’s seafloor observatory and its failure. It also describes the use of 203 days of simultaneously logged pressure and velocity time-series data, measured by a Scripps differential pressure gauge, and a Güralp CMG-1T broadband seismometer on NEPTUNE Canada’s seismic station, respectively, to evaluate variations in sediment stiffness near Bullseye. The evaluation resulted in a (- 4.49 x10-3± 3.52 x 10-3) % change of the transfer function of 3rd October, 2010 and represents a 2.88% decrease in the stiffness of the sediments over the period. This thesis also outlines a new algorithm for calculating the static compliance of isotropic layered sediments.