Discover the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Hydrothermal Vents

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an underwater mountain range running from Iceland to the Antarctic, formed where tectonic plates meet and create new ocean floor. Hydrothermal vents, like chimneys, spew mineral-rich seawater due to interactions between cold seawater and hot molten rock beneath the Earth's crust.

• Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• Hydrothermal Vents
• Tectonic Plates
• Underwater Landscape
• Volcanic Activity

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1. The Deep Unknown: Discover The Mid Atlantic Ridge and Hydrothermal Vents

2. What is the Mid Atlantic Ridge? The Mid Atlantic Ridge is an underwater mountain range It runs across the ocean floor from Iceland to the Antarctic, stretching almost 16,000 kilometers. It is one of the largest natural features of our planet except we can t see it because it is underwater! It even has mountains taller than Mt Everest reaching up from the ocean floor.

3. How does the Mid Atlantic Ridge form? The Mid Atlantic Ridge forms where two tectonic plates meet. The plates slowly pull apart creating a gap in the earth s surface. Hot molten rock pushes up from beneath the earth s crust forming new ocean floor.

4. Atlantic Ocean Ridge Sea Floor Hot Molten Rock

5. Atlantic Ocean Hydrothermal Vents Sea Floor This deep underwater landscape of volcanic activity is also where HYDROTHERMAL VENTS exist

6. What is a hydrothermal vent? A hydrothermal vent is a chimney like structure that forms at a crack in the planet s surface and puffs out mineral-rich seawater. A group of chimneys together is called a field. This picture shows what scientists eyes saw the first time the Moytirra vents field was discovered. The largest chimney here is 18 meters tall and is named Balor after a legendary giant from Irish mythology.

7. How do hydrothermal vents form? Cold sea water seeps down through cracks in the ocean floor When this hydrothermal fluid meets the cool seawater the metals combine with sulphides and form tiny black solid mineral particles. The seawater is heated to temperatures of +350 degrees celsius by molten rock deep beneath the Earth s crust These particles settle on the ocean floor to form the chimney like vent structures. The water is now rich in metal minerals and is spewed back up through the vents to emerge like clouds of black smoke

8. BLACK SMOKER CHIMNEY COOL SEAWATER MINERAL RICH HYDROTHERMAL FLUID + 350 C