The existence of these vents was discovered fairly recently in 1977 by scientists aboard a submersible, and were found at a depth of nearly 8,000 feet below the surface. Ocean water seeps into small cracks in the ocean floor, is heated by volcanic rock, rises and then spews back into the ocean. As the hot water meets the cold ocean water, minerals that have been collected on its journey form particles and can gather and develop into 'chimneys'.
Source: NOAA
These chimneys are known as 'smokers'. The type of minerals that form the chimneys determine whether it's a white smoker (barium, calcium, silicon) or a black smoker (sulfide, iron). Chimneys can grow to be more than 30 feet tall.
The average depth for vents is around 7,000 feet, where sunlight can't reach. Plus the water that spews from these vents can be up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it even more astonishing that the surrounding areas are teeming with life. That's because the minerals support chemosynthetic bacteria which is eaten by plankton. Both the bacteria and plankton is food for the rest of the vent community filter feeders which include giant tube worms, shrimp, limpets, mussels and clams. Eels, fish, crabs and octopus can also be found. Because the type and mix of minerals can vary, each community is unique.
Giant tube worms Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Deep sea clams and crabs Source: Sea and Sky
Limpets Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Over 300 new species have been found in these vent communities and more are being discovered on a regular basis. It has been theorized that life on earth originated at a hydrothermal vent. There is much more to learn about these unique ecosystems.
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