| Mid-ocean ridges serve as critical tectonic belts for seafloor spreading and core zones of hydrothermal system activity. Long-term
in situ observation of geological events in these regions is essential for understanding Earth爷s internal structure, marine crustal evolution,
hydrothermal systems, and the origin of life, while providing a scientific foundation for seabed resource development. In 2011, China acquired an exploration contract area of approximately 10 000 km2 for hydrothermal sulfide resources in the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR),
with 2 500 km2 currently designated as a priority mining retention zone. As resource exploration deepens, implementing long-term in situ
observation has become indispensable to support research on resource evolution and the resource development process. This paper systematically reviews global in situ long-term observation systems and case studies in MOR hydrothermal fields, summarizes the model characteristics of observatory stations, observation chains, and observation networks in mid-ocean ridges, as well as the key elements for observing
geological events, discusses the application advantages of borehole observation technology, and proposes a geological event-driven borehole
observation system for the SWIR爷s remote geographic constraints. The goal is to provide scientific guidance for real-time, accurate, and
sustained observation of geological events in the SWIR. |
