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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