OBS-Thermo sets out to overcome the mismatch in observation times of different sensors and to build a first base of combined and co-registered measurements at hydrothermal fields. For this purpose an OBS shall be extended with a temperature sensor and be deployed at 5°S
on the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 2009. With the ROV controlled deployment of the thermal sensor in the chimney of a black smoker the OBS-Thermo will co-record local seismicity and vent fluid exit temperature and hence correlate thermal events with increased fluid flow, which should be recorded as increased micro-seismicity. This
system will be the base of a new local network of sensors independent from external power supply to be used in future seafloor hydrothermal research.