What is a hydrothermal vent? What process is involved in their making? Who is responsible for discovering these vents
· Hydrothermal vents are hot springs that are found on ocean ridges. The water that is released at these sites is super heated and enriched with metals. The acidity of the water is often higher than normal sea water.
· These vents are created by the process of convection. It is thought that water seeps into cracks and fissures of rocks where the seafloor is spreading. The super heated and chemically active water then dissolves minerals and gases which escape through these vents. Sometimes the minerals in these vents can turn the water different colors as it is being released. An example of this would be black smoker hydrothermal vents.
· These vents are not limited to the ocean. They can be found in lakes and even on land. Iceland has many of these hydrothermal vents because the mid-ocean ridge has risen above ground. These vents are named fumaroles. The water immediately phase changes once released and becomes steam.
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