Deepest-ever hydrothermal vents found in Caribbean
FEB 21, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026787
BBC : A group of UK scientists exploring the ocean floor in the Caribbean have discovered the deepest set of hydrothermal vents to date. They are also the hottest, at 401 °C. Reminiscent of industrial smokestacks, the vents spew out dark water from narrow chimney-like structures up to 10 m high. The vents are located in the Cayman Trough, which is formed by the boundary between two tectonic plates. Using a remotely operated vehicle launched from the RRS James Cook, a UK research ship, the team captured live video images and collected samples over a 24-hour period. Because of the high temperature of the water that gets vented, the region also contains unique life forms. Future dives are planned to gather more data on why and how life evolved in such a hostile environment, writes David Shukman for the BBC.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
