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Abstract
The acoustic scintillation method is applied to the investigation and monitoring of avigorous hydrothermal plume within the Main Endeavour vent field (MEF) at the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. A 40 day time series of the plumes vertical velocity and temperature fluctuations was estimated during the experiment. An integral plume model taking into account ambient stratification and horizontal cross flows is established from the conservation equations of mass, momentum, density deficit and dissolved tracers. The consistency of the model result to the experimental data suggests that the tidal oscillations observed in the acoustic scintillation measurement is a result of a tidally varying entrainment velocity that is a function of both the plume axial velocity and the ambient flow.