Who is NOAA?
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is a leader in exploring the geologic and biologic mystery of the deep sea.
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is a leader in exploring the geologic and biologic mystery of the deep sea.
What is the mid-ocean ridge system? What happens there?
The mid-ocean ridge system is a 65,000 kilometers long series of sea-floor spreading centers, where new earth is created. It forms the longest and largest mountain range on earth. It winds its way between the continents.
The mid-ocean ridge system is a 65,000 kilometers long series of sea-floor spreading centers, where new earth is created. It forms the longest and largest mountain range on earth. It winds its way between the continents.
How long/wide the is mid-ocean ridge system? Where is it located?
The mid-ocean ridge system is 1,500 kilometers wide. It snakes across the earth's surface and is located between the continents.
The mid-ocean ridge system is 1,500 kilometers wide. It snakes across the earth's surface and is located between the continents.
What type of plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system? Explain.
A divergent plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system. When two pieces of the earth's crust pull away from each other, new sea floor is created between them. The surface of the planet is renewed, and the older crust is recycled back into the mantle, where plates collide.
A divergent plate boundary forms a mid-ocean ridge system. When two pieces of the earth's crust pull away from each other, new sea floor is created between them. The surface of the planet is renewed, and the older crust is recycled back into the mantle, where plates collide.
Explain how ridges form:
Ridges form when tectonic activity pulls part of the ocean crust, causing crack along the narrow, linear rift zone. As the plate thins, the mantle starts to melt, and magma arises into the fracturing crust.
Ridges form when tectonic activity pulls part of the ocean crust, causing crack along the narrow, linear rift zone. As the plate thins, the mantle starts to melt, and magma arises into the fracturing crust.
What forms most of the ocean crust?
Basaltic dikes forms the ocean crust. They typically comprise the lower 7-9 kilometer of the ocean crust. Pillow basalt lies on top of the dike.
Basaltic dikes forms the ocean crust. They typically comprise the lower 7-9 kilometer of the ocean crust. Pillow basalt lies on top of the dike.
How does hot lava respond to cold sea water? (Pillow Basalt)
The outer skin of the flow solidifies instantly, while the interior remains molten and keeps moving. This distorts the surface of the basalt into a regular lumpy pillows.
The outer skin of the flow solidifies instantly, while the interior remains molten and keeps moving. This distorts the surface of the basalt into a regular lumpy pillows.
What is happening at the Juan de Fuca Ridge?
The spreading of ridges creates an average width of 6 meters of new crust every 100 years.
The spreading of ridges creates an average width of 6 meters of new crust every 100 years.
What does the rate of spreading dictate?
The rate of spreading influences the topography of the ridge. For example, a slow spreading ridge displays a steep, narrow and irregular topography.
The rate of spreading influences the topography of the ridge. For example, a slow spreading ridge displays a steep, narrow and irregular topography.
How hot can sea water be heated to at the mid-oceanic ridges?
Sea water seeps into the oceanic crust and can become extremely hot, as much as 400 degree Celsius.
Sea water seeps into the oceanic crust and can become extremely hot, as much as 400 degree Celsius.
Explain how HYDROTHERMAL Vents are formed:
Hydrothermal vents are formed very slowly over time at the bottom of the ocean. First, the earth's plates move apart, allowing cold sea water to seep down into the openings. Then, the water heats up and the fluid sinks as as it goes deeper, it becomes hotter. The fluid then rushes out of the ocean floor and this creates a chemical reaction. Then it goes out and creates smoke.
Hydrothermal vents are formed very slowly over time at the bottom of the ocean. First, the earth's plates move apart, allowing cold sea water to seep down into the openings. Then, the water heats up and the fluid sinks as as it goes deeper, it becomes hotter. The fluid then rushes out of the ocean floor and this creates a chemical reaction. Then it goes out and creates smoke.
Why is the hot mineral water so important? What do they support?
Hot mineral water is so important because it supports and nourishes a bizarre fauna that is completely independent of solar energy that exists only at hydrothermal vents.
Hot mineral water is so important because it supports and nourishes a bizarre fauna that is completely independent of solar energy that exists only at hydrothermal vents.
What is chemosynthesis? How does it differ from photosynthesis?
Chemosynthesis is a process certain organisms use to produce energy, akin to photosynthesis, but without the utilization of sunlight. The energy comes from the oxidization (burning) of chemicals which seep up from the Earth's crust. The organisms that use chemosynthesis, all bacteria, manufacture carbohydrates and other organic molecules from the oxidization of sulfates or ammonia. The hydrogen they use comes from hydrogen sulfite, whereas the nitrogen comes from ammonia or nitrates. The organisms that use chemosynthesis are found around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
Chemosynthesis is a process certain organisms use to produce energy, akin to photosynthesis, but without the utilization of sunlight. The energy comes from the oxidization (burning) of chemicals which seep up from the Earth's crust. The organisms that use chemosynthesis, all bacteria, manufacture carbohydrates and other organic molecules from the oxidization of sulfates or ammonia. The hydrogen they use comes from hydrogen sulfite, whereas the nitrogen comes from ammonia or nitrates. The organisms that use chemosynthesis are found around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.