Lets explore the ocean floor.

Thermal Vents

Review Plate Tectonics There are three different plate boundaries. Transform boundaries Convergent boundaries Divergent boundaries

Plate Tectonics Transform Plate Boundary This type of boundary is one where the two plates slide against each other in a sideways motion. These boundaries between plates is referred to as transform boundaries. As two plates slide past one another, in a transform boundary, neither plate is added to at the boundary, nor destroyed. logy-for-kids/0047- transform-boundaries.php

Plate Tectonics Convergent Plate Boundary Converge is a large word that scientists use to describe two objects that come together. In the case of plate tectonics, the two objects coming together are large plate-like pieces of the Earth’s crust. As these two plates push against each other, one is ultimately forced down beneath the other.

Plate Tectonics Divergent Plate Boundaries Diverge is a big word used by scientists to describe what happens when two objects move away from each other. Thus, a divergent boundary is a boundary where two tectonic plates are moving away from one another. As we have already discussed, this most often takes place at ocean ridges.

Where are thermal vents found? First discovered in 1977 In the Pacific and Atlantic oceans Depth of 2,100 meters (7,000ft.) Divergent Plate Boundaries Convergent Plate Boundaries That are not close to the shore.

How it works The Earth's crust is moving apart, creating cracks and crevices in the ocean floor.

How it works Seawater seeps into these openings and is heated by the molten rock, or magma, that lies beneath the Earth's crust. As the water is heated, it rises and seeks a path back out into the ocean through an opening. It spouts a column of water heated by volcanic rock.

Why does it not boil? The water coming out of the vents may be as hot as 400°C (750°F). In the deep part of the ocean it is extremely cold and is only a few degrees above freezing.

Smokestacks When the super-hot vent water meets the surrounding deep cold ocean water, the dissolved metals become particles and they form the smokestacks. bioinfo.bact.wisc.edu/.../Intro.html

Black Smoker Are the hottest vents They spew iron and sulfide

White smokers The water released is cooler than the Black smokers. Contains Barium Calcium Silicon

Life around the vents. Tubeworms Anemones Clams Spider crabs images&v%3afile=viv_1101%4031%3amXS9tN&v%3aframe=list&v%3astate=root%7cN298&id=N298&action=list&y.mil/focus/ocean/habitats/vents.htm Tubeworms in the Pacific Ocean Spider crab A string of clams winds across a vent Deep-sea anemone clings to lava outcrop

Activity First lets make our own ocean water. Need salt (lots of salt) Need ice (lots of ice) Mix

Activity Get into groups of 4 One person in the group come up and get the materials Lets Explore! photo&profile=1&view=filmstrip&photo=6

Questions?