HYDROTHERMAL VENTS

Geological OceanographyJaime Miller

HISTORY OF VENTS

First vents were found in 1977 along the Galapagos Spreading CenterSince the vents discovery more than 400 species have been described

WHAT ARE HYDROTHERMAL VENTS?

submarine springs where nutrient rich fluids emanate from the sea floor

vents occur along active mid-ocean ridges and back-arc spreading centers

Black smoker

White smoker

HOW VENTS FORM

Sea-floor Spreading

Form where crustal plates are slowly spreading apartNormally found along the crest of oceanic mid-ocean ridges

HOW VENTS WORK1. Cold seawater sinks

down through cracks in the crust

2. Components such as oxygen and potassium are removed from the seawater

3. Calcium, sulfate, and magnesium are removed from the remaining fluid

HOW VENTS WORK

4. Sodium, calcium, and potassium from the surrounding crust enter the fluid

5. Fluids reach their maximum temperature and copper, zinc, iron, and hydrogen sulfide from the crust dissolve into the fluids

HOW VENTS WORK

6. Hot fluids carrying the dissolved metals rise up through the crust

7. Hydrothermal fluids mix with the cold, oxygen rich seawater

HYDROTHERMAL VENT SPECIES

Sea floor spreading rate and topographic features are the likely influence the biogeographySix biogeographic provinces are recognized

HYDROTHERMAL VENT SPECIES

OTHER POSSIBLE REASONS FOR SPECIES VARIANCES

Bathymetric differencesDifferences in sedimentationDelivery of photosynthetically derived organic materialFrequent volcanic eruptions engulfing existing vent communities allowing new communities to form

COMMON VENT SPECIES

BACTERIA TUBE WORMS

COMMON VENT SPECIES

CRABS MUSSELS

COMMON VENT SPECIES

SHRIMP FISH

COMMON VENT SPECIESOCTOPUS