hydrothermal vents
Underwater volcanic chimneys
Hydrothermal vents are openings in the ocean floor where geothermally heated water erupts into the surrounding sea.
Found along mid-ocean ridges and volcanic areas, they release mineral-rich fluid at extreme temperatures.
Despite the crushing pressure and total darkness, unique ecosystems thrive around vents, sustained by bacteria that convert chemical energy rather than sunlight: Scientists discovered new species clustered around the hydrothermal vents.
Mobile crustal sections
- black smokersSeafloor structures emitting superheated water
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- mantleCovering or wrap
- magma chamberSubsurface pocket holding liquefied rock
volcanism · fumaroles · oceanic crust · fissures · fault lines
Sedentary marine annelids
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- giant clamsMassive tropical reef bivalves
- archaeaThird domain of life
- musselsEdible marine bivalves
symbiosis · endemic species · adaptation · microbes · zooplankton · genetic diversity · ecological niche · bioluminescence
Compounds with element sixteen
- mineral depositsNatural rock-bound resources
- chimneysVertical smoke conduits
- precipitatesCauses suddenly or prematurely
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
zinc · iron · manganese · gold · silver · mineralization · crystallization · pyrite
Vessels that travel underwater
- AlvinSmall striped rodent
- ROVsRemotely operated underwater vehicles
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
- NOAAU.S. weather and ocean agency
water sampling · discovery · Jason · Nautilus · Triton · research vessels
Producing food internally
- energy conversionChanging power between forms
- thermophilesOrganisms requiring high temperatures
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
tectonic plates
Mobile crustal sections
- black smokersSeafloor structures emitting superheated water
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- mantleCovering or wrap
magma chamber · volcanism · fumaroles · oceanic crust · fissures · fault lines
tubeworms
Sedentary marine annelids
- extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
- giant clamsMassive tropical reef bivalves
- archaeaThird domain of life
mussels · symbiosis · endemic species · adaptation · microbes · zooplankton · genetic diversity · ecological niche · bioluminescence · snails
sulfides
Compounds with element sixteen
- mineral depositsNatural rock-bound resources
- chimneysVertical smoke conduits
- precipitatesCauses suddenly or prematurely
copper · zinc · iron · manganese · gold · silver · mineralization · crystallization · pyrite · anhydrite
submersibles
Vessels that travel underwater
- AlvinSmall striped rodent
- ROVsRemotely operated underwater vehicles
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
NOAA · water sampling · discovery · Jason · Nautilus · Triton · research vessels
autotrophy
Producing food internally
- energy conversionChanging power between forms
- thermophilesOrganisms requiring high temperatures
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
oxidation · enzymes · nitrogen fixation · biochemistry · carbon dioxide
- Indian OceanArabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Andaman Sea
- deep seaabyss, seabed, ocean floor, ocean depths, seafloor
- ocean scienceoceanography, marine biology, marine ecosystems, marine science, marine research
- aquatic zonescoastal zones, marine habitats, aquatic habitats, continental shelf, deep sea
- Early Earthprimordial soup, early life, abiogenesis, prokaryotes, single-celled organisms
- Extreme Habitatsblack smokers, sulfur springs, geysers, fumaroles, deep ocean
hydrothermal ventssurface waters
Water exposed to air
sea surface · tidal pools · hot springs · geysers · fumaroles
thermal, dehydrate, thermos, thermostat, hydration, hydrogen, hydro, rehydrate, anhydrous