Hydrothermal Vents
Vent Basics:
Define the following (Make sure to include photos)
- Explain the process of a Black Smoker.
First, cold water goes down cracks in the ocean floor. Energy from molten rock beneath the ocean crust raises the flowing water's temperature to about 350 to 400 degrees. Along with this, the water begins to change due to chemical reactions. Some of the reactions are: all oxygen from the water is removed, the water becomes acidic, the water picks up metals such as iron, copper, and zinc. The water also picks up hydrogen sulfide. Since hot water is less dense than cold water, it rises to the top like a hot air balloon, carrying the dissolved metals with it. After all this, the hot water exits as smoke into the cold seawater. However, a black smoke is not smoke. It is actually hydrothermal fluid hot enough to melt metal. When the water is mixing with the seawater, the metals combine with sulfur to make tiny black particles, giving it the dark appearance.
Define the following (Make sure to include photos)
- Explain the process of a Black Smoker.
First, cold water goes down cracks in the ocean floor. Energy from molten rock beneath the ocean crust raises the flowing water's temperature to about 350 to 400 degrees. Along with this, the water begins to change due to chemical reactions. Some of the reactions are: all oxygen from the water is removed, the water becomes acidic, the water picks up metals such as iron, copper, and zinc. The water also picks up hydrogen sulfide. Since hot water is less dense than cold water, it rises to the top like a hot air balloon, carrying the dissolved metals with it. After all this, the hot water exits as smoke into the cold seawater. However, a black smoke is not smoke. It is actually hydrothermal fluid hot enough to melt metal. When the water is mixing with the seawater, the metals combine with sulfur to make tiny black particles, giving it the dark appearance.
Vent Boiling Points:
- Explain why the boiling point of water changes with depth in the ocean
Pressure causes the boiling point of water to change with depth in the ocean. For every 10 meters you dive, the pressure increases by one atmosphere.
- Explain why the boiling point of water changes with depth in the ocean
Pressure causes the boiling point of water to change with depth in the ocean. For every 10 meters you dive, the pressure increases by one atmosphere.
Vent Chemistry:
- Explain how the water chemistry changes in the hydrothermal vent system.
When seawater seeps down into the ocean crust and is heated by the magma, it undergoes lots of chemical reactions. When the fluid rises up to the seafloor, it carries many chemicals with it. (copper and zinc)
- Explain how the water chemistry changes in the hydrothermal vent system.
When seawater seeps down into the ocean crust and is heated by the magma, it undergoes lots of chemical reactions. When the fluid rises up to the seafloor, it carries many chemicals with it. (copper and zinc)
Vents around the world:
- Where can hydrothermal vents be found? Give a few examples
Most hydrothermal vents can be found near the Mid-Ocean ridge and can be found at any depth. Some hydrothermal vents can be found at Loihi Seamount, New Zealand (at 30 meters deep), Juan De Fuca, Broken Spur, and more. Some hydrothermal vents are sometimes found on land, and there are two famous examples. One is the geysers and hotsprings at Yellowstone National Park and on the North Island of New Zealand.
- Where can hydrothermal vents be found? Give a few examples
Most hydrothermal vents can be found near the Mid-Ocean ridge and can be found at any depth. Some hydrothermal vents can be found at Loihi Seamount, New Zealand (at 30 meters deep), Juan De Fuca, Broken Spur, and more. Some hydrothermal vents are sometimes found on land, and there are two famous examples. One is the geysers and hotsprings at Yellowstone National Park and on the North Island of New Zealand.
Vent Life:
- Name some of the critter found around hydrothermal vent systems
Around hydrothermal vent systems, you can find octopus, tubeworms, shrimp, clams, mussels, and more.
- Name some of the critter found around hydrothermal vent systems
Around hydrothermal vent systems, you can find octopus, tubeworms, shrimp, clams, mussels, and more.
Tube Worm Anatomy:
- Describe the tube worm anatomy. Explain the symbolic relationship that are found within tube worms.
The tube worm has a muscle which lets the worm stay inside the tube. The worm can never leave the tube. The tube worm has a cavity filled with bacteria. This acts as their food system, as they use chemosynthesis to absorb some of the sugar that the bacteria manufacture. On the outside of the worm is the worm tube. This tube is made of chitin, the same substance that is in the outer skeleton of a crab or shrimp. The worm tube helps protect itself from predators and toxic chemicals from the vents. Like the shrimp and crab, the tube acts like a outer skeleton. A tube worms plume is filled with blood, as it carries hemoglobin. The blood in the plume transports water, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, to the bacteria in the cavity.
- Describe the tube worm anatomy. Explain the symbolic relationship that are found within tube worms.
The tube worm has a muscle which lets the worm stay inside the tube. The worm can never leave the tube. The tube worm has a cavity filled with bacteria. This acts as their food system, as they use chemosynthesis to absorb some of the sugar that the bacteria manufacture. On the outside of the worm is the worm tube. This tube is made of chitin, the same substance that is in the outer skeleton of a crab or shrimp. The worm tube helps protect itself from predators and toxic chemicals from the vents. Like the shrimp and crab, the tube acts like a outer skeleton. A tube worms plume is filled with blood, as it carries hemoglobin. The blood in the plume transports water, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, to the bacteria in the cavity.
Chemosynthesis:
- Explain the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is when plants harness the sun to get energy and produce sugar and oxygen. However, in hydrothermal vent systems, the sun doesnt reach down that far, so what does the microbes do down there? They use chemosynthesis. Chemosynthesis is when a microbe in the hydrothermal vent system uses hydrogen sulfide to produce sugar from breaking down oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- Explain the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is when plants harness the sun to get energy and produce sugar and oxygen. However, in hydrothermal vent systems, the sun doesnt reach down that far, so what does the microbes do down there? They use chemosynthesis. Chemosynthesis is when a microbe in the hydrothermal vent system uses hydrogen sulfide to produce sugar from breaking down oxygen and carbon dioxide.