What is a hydrothermal vent?

A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the planet's surface, typically found on the seabed, from which geothermally heated water discharges. These vents form in geologically active areas where tectonic plates pull apart, near hotspots, or in ocean basins. Instead of sunlight, the rich ecosystems surrounding these vents rely on chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea at the base of the food chain.

What we know

• Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seabed or planet surface from which geothermally heated water issues. [1, 2]
• Ocean water enters the earth's crust, is heated by magma, and is forced back out while accumulating dissolved minerals and chemicals. [3]
• Chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea form the base of the food chain around vents, supporting diverse organisms like giant tube worms and shrimp. [2, 3]
• Active hydrothermal vents are hypothesized to exist on Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. [2] · medium confidence

Still open

• It is speculated whether ancient hydrothermal vents once existed on Mars.

Where to go next

• how it workedHow do hydrothermal vent microbial communities work?
• a case in pointWhat is the deepest known hydrothermal vent field?
• the bigger pictureWhat are hot springs?
• what followedHow do hydrothermal plumes affect ocean biogeochemistry?
• how we knowWhat is the yeti crab?
• an unexpected connectionHow do fluffy deep-sea crustaceans survive near boiling vents?The yeti crab is a crustacea discovered near hydrothermal vents, notable for the silky blond setae covering its body that house bacteria.

Sources

• [1]hydrothermal vent (Wikidata Q867648) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Hydrothermal vent · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Hydrothermal vent microbial communities · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Beebe Hydrothermal Vent Field · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Kiwa hirsuta · CC BY-SA 4.0