Thriving Ecosystems Found at Spectacular Hydrothermal Vents

A recent expedition to locate hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near Puerto Rico yielded a new find: a group of “black smoker” vents emitting water of 645 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot spring-like structures occur where the Earth’s plates converge and spread, and are biodiversity hot spots that teem with ocean life that has adapted to temperatures of over 700 degrees. The expedition used a variety of mapping techniques to find the vents, along with a remotely operated vehicle called SuBastian that collected images, measurements and samples from the deep ocean floor.