a hole in the ocean floor where hot liquids, often containing minerals and gases, rise from subsurface magma
a hot spring found at depths from three to four thousand meters in areas along mid-ocean ridges
an opening in the ocean's floor where superheated water containing minerals flows out
an opening in the sea floor occurring near spreading centers in the deep-sea, from which very hot, mineral-rich water from the earth's interior is released. Precipitation of these minerals in the cold water of the deep sea leads to the formation of tall "chimneys", or black smokers. Vents are home to many unusual creatures, many of which use chemosynthesis or symbiosis to obtain their nutrition. Hydrothermal vents & seeps, seeps are similar to vents, but are generally much cooler and often don't have as high a level of biodiversity.
A place on the ocean floor where hot, chemical-filled water flows up through cracks in the Earth's crust.
A hot spring on the seafloor.
n. A place on the seafloor, generally associated with spreading centers, where warm to super-hot, mineral-rich water is released; may support a diverse community of organisms.
An opening in the sea floor through which super-heated water and other material are discharged into the surrounding seawater.
Vent on the seafloor where hot water comes out from the crust. The hot water cools abruptly when it hits the cold seawater and minerals precipitate out to build a chimney.
A volcanic opening on the ocean floor, often located along the mid-ocean ridges. These vents are known to support rich marine organisms, independent of light.
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found in places that are also volcanically active, where hot magma is relatively near the planet's surface.
