TheStrangeWorld

ofHydrothermal Vents

TheStrangeWorld

ofHydrothermal Vents

Before you learn what they are, take a look at what they are.

This is what a hydrothermal vent looks like.(Click here 2:49)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_jubgEzG9A

Before you learn what they are, take a look at what they are.

This is what a hydrothermal vent looks like.(Click here 2:49)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_jubgEzG9A

In 1977, Dr. Robert Ballard led an expedition in search of the first hydrothermal vent to be discovered. He found them. But that is only the

beginning of this historic journey.

In 1977, Dr. Robert Ballard led an expedition in search of the first hydrothermal vent to be discovered. He found them. But that is only the

beginning of this historic journey.

ALVIN

First deep sea submersible.

Built by WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute).

Our Vineyard neighbors!

ALVIN

First deep sea submersible.

Built by WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute).

Our Vineyard neighbors!

ALVIN was launched that day in 1977 near the Galapagos Islands, along a mid-ocean ridge, where scientists predicted they might find

deep-sea hydrothermal activity.

ALVIN was launched that day in 1977 near the Galapagos Islands, along a mid-ocean ridge, where scientists predicted they might find

deep-sea hydrothermal activity.

And they found it.Chimneys spewing out what looked like black smoke.

The scientists called them “black smokers.”

And they found it.Chimneys spewing out what looked like black smoke.

The scientists called them “black smokers.”

These were underwater geysers, fueled by hot magma chambers just below the mid-ocean ridge.

These were underwater geysers, fueled by hot magma chambers just below the mid-ocean ridge.

In some places, there are so-called “white smokers”, where the plumes contain different minerals.

In some places, there are so-called “white smokers”, where the plumes contain different minerals.

Conditions at the vents:Conditions at the vents:

Extreme temperatures (35oF - 750oF) [That’s almost freezing, to 4X hotter than boiling water!]

Extreme pressure (3500 lbs/ in2) [That’s 240x the pressure we feel on the surface.]

Poison gases, heavy metals. Absolutely no light.

Extreme temperatures (35oF - 750oF) [That’s almost freezing, to 4X hotter than boiling water!]

Extreme pressure (3500 lbs/ in2) [That’s 240x the pressure we feel on the surface.]

Poison gases, heavy metals. Absolutely no light.

It was an amazing discovery.

But more amazing than these remarkable vents…

It was an amazing discovery.

But more amazing than these remarkable vents…

The place was teeming withlife…

Strange life…

Organisms never before seen by humans.

The place was teeming withlife…

Strange life…

Organisms never before seen by humans.

Especially obvious were countless giant tubeworms, with bright red heads, larger than any tubeworms observed before.

Especially obvious were countless giant tubeworms, with bright red heads, larger than any tubeworms observed before.

And with the tubeworms were clams, mussels, crabs, shrimp, even a type of fish and a type of octopus.

But what were these things doing down there?

And with the tubeworms were clams, mussels, crabs, shrimp, even a type of fish and a type of octopus.

But what were these things doing down there?

And huge amounts of them!And huge amounts of them!

Robotic arms on ALVIN allowed them to collect samples and bring them up to the research vessel. What they discovered next is still harder to

believe. These were not normal clams and tubeworms at all…

Robotic arms on ALVIN allowed them to collect samples and bring them up to the research vessel. What they discovered next is still harder to

believe. These were not normal clams and tubeworms at all…

And when they dissected them, they smelled horribly – of rotten eggs, and looked nothing like anything they’d seen before…for they had no mouths, stomachs, or intestines.

So…how did they eat? WHAT did they eat?

And when they dissected them, they smelled horribly – of rotten eggs, and looked nothing like anything they’d seen before…for they had no mouths, stomachs, or intestines.

So…how did they eat? WHAT did they eat?

Ironically, there were no bioligists on that famous trip in 1977,

only geologists.

Why?

Because no one ever expected to find anything living at those depths, under such extreme conditions.

Truly, these organisms were “extremophiles”.

Ironically, there were no bioligists on that famous trip in 1977,

only geologists.

Why?

Because no one ever expected to find anything living at those depths, under such extreme conditions.

Truly, these organisms were “extremophiles”.

It took two more years until the next trip to the vents, and much help from biologists, including Dr. Fred Grassle, to unravel the mystery of these

bizarre vent creatures.

It took two more years until the next trip to the vents, and much help from biologists, including Dr. Fred Grassle, to unravel the mystery of these

bizarre vent creatures.

The answer?

Once again,the smallest,

but most abundantcreatures on Earth…

BACTERIA.

The answer?

Once again,the smallest,

but most abundantcreatures on Earth…

BACTERIA.

But these are not normal bacteria.But these are not normal bacteria.

These bacteria were living off the energy of the Earth, not the

energy of the Sun.

These bacteria were living off the energy of the Earth, not the

energy of the Sun.

Closer inspection revealed that these bacteria could take the chemical energy locked within the hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell),

and convert it to sugar - glucose.

Much as green plants do with sunlight, through photosynthesis.

Closer inspection revealed that these bacteria could take the chemical energy locked within the hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell),

and convert it to sugar - glucose.

Much as green plants do with sunlight, through photosynthesis.

But without LIGHT.

In TOTAL DARKNESS.

(No chlorophyll either!)

But without LIGHT.

In TOTAL DARKNESS.

(No chlorophyll either!)

A process previously unknown to all of science, which we now

call…

CHEMOSYNTHESIS

A process previously unknown to all of science, which we now

call…

CHEMOSYNTHESIS

Look at some more video of these vents.(Click for video 2:00)

Look at some more video of these vents.(Click for video 2:00)

Since 1977, dozens of other hydrothermal vents have been discovered at mid-ocean ridges around the globe.

Since 1977, dozens of other hydrothermal vents have been discovered at mid-ocean ridges around the globe.

The discovery of hydrothermal vents at mid-ocean ridges is considered one of the most important

scientific discoveries of the century.

They have entirely changed the way we look at life on Earth. And beyond.

We shall soon learn how.(Click here for video 5:24)

The discovery of hydrothermal vents at mid-ocean ridges is considered one of the most important

scientific discoveries of the century.

They have entirely changed the way we look at life on Earth. And beyond.

We shall soon learn how.(Click here for video 5:24)