Geochemical Characterization of Fluids in Diverse Hydrothermal Vent Systems
My research lies at the intersection of marine chemistry and biogeochemistry, focusing on the geochemical dynamics of hydrothermal systems and their influence on trace metal cycling in the ocean. In particular, I investigate the behavior of mercury (Hg), a globally distributed toxic metal of major environmental concern, due to its potent neurotoxicity and ability to bioaccumulate in marine food webs.
Hydrothermal vent systems—both shallow and deep—act as important natural sources of trace metals to the ocean. Yet, the mechanisms by which mercury is mobilized, transformed, and transported in these environments remain poorly constrained. My project addresses this gap by conducting a comparative study of diverse hydrothermal sites, including shallow submarine volcanoes at Kolumbo and Milos (Hellenic Volcanic Arc), and deep-sea hydrothermal fields along the Knipovich Ridge (Arctic Ocean) and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
A central focus is the distribution, speciation, and transformation of mercury across the water column and within vent-associated habitats. I investigate different chemical forms of mercury (e.g., elemental Hg⁰, inorganic Hg²⁺, and methylmercury), their fluxes from hydrothermal sources, and their fate in the ocean. To trace mercury cycling pathways, I combine geochemical analyses of fluids and particulates with stable isotope measurements in both abiotic samples and marine organisms.
By studying mercury speciation and isotopic composition in biota, I aim to elucidate how hydrothermal
mercury enters and moves through marine food webs, and how these systems contribute to the broader oceanic mercury cycle. This research provides new insights into the natural geochemical processes that shape trace metal distributions in the ocean and informs our understanding of environmental exposure in volcanically active marine regions.
