What is a hydrothermal vent? What process is involved in their making? Who is responsible for

discovering these vents? What will be an ideal response?


ANS:Answer
should include:
? 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.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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