SUAVE, or a System Used to AssessVented Emissions, provides continuous, in-situ analysis of hydrothermal chemical species such as iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide based on principals of flow analysis and colorimetric detection. In addition to chemical components, SUAVE is equipped to accept signals from an array of auxiliary sensors that include state of the art CTD sensors, optical sensors, thermisters, or any other sensor with output between 0 and 5 vdc. SUAVE is extremely versatile and can be mounted on a wide variety of platforms for sampling during profiles or transects, or deployed for short term monitoring applications.

Since its fabrication in 1991, SUAVE has been deployed on a wide variety of platforms directed toward hydrothermal research issues. Hydrothermal plumes have been SUAVE-sectioned vertically, horizontally, and in sawtooth pattern over almost 1000 km of ridgecrest. The thermochemical attributes of diffuse venting systems have been determined by SUAVE with spatial detail seldom achieved anywhere on the seafloor. Relations between macro-fauna and chemical and thermal distributions at vent habitats have been robustly investigated using SUAVE. For example, SUAVE has been fitted to CTD, camera, and side-scan tow packages, to two research submersibles (ALVIN, and SHINKAI 6500) and 3 ROVs (ROPOS, Ventana, and ATV), and demonstrated to be a viable research tool in each instance.