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Example research essay topic: Hydrothermal Vents Ocean Floor - 1,069 words

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Some 7, 500 feet below the oceans surface lies a intriguing and bizarre world unlike any other. Large black volcanoes tower above the ocean floor spouting out poisonous black gas into freezing cold waters and blind crabs roam endlessly in pitch darkness. These intolerable conditions could only mean one thing, hydrothermal vents. These mystical giants of the deep have stumped some of the worlds greatest scientists who have only recently discovered that they may hold the potential key to some of the worlds great scientific mysteries such as how an ecosystem can survive with out sunlight and the possible origin of life. Only by studying and understanding hydrothermal vents will we be able to start to unlock some of these puzzles. In discovering hydrothermal vents, many more questions arose.

One of which relates to the excruciating circumstances organisms that inhabit these vent sites survive under. This includes how they are able to withstand poisonous toxins, unbearable temperatures, outstanding pressure, possess the ability to gather food and reproduce effectively. One of the finest examples of these amazing organisms is the tube worm. But before we tackle the many questions surrounding this unusual creature it is best to understand the environment it thrives in. History of Hydrothermal Vents Recently scientists began an in depth study on the potential existence of hot water vents. While the existence of the mid ocean ridges were known, some believed a similar type of vent resided that was supported by a hydrothermal system.

From as early as 1972 scientists began taking water samples that indicated the presence of these hot water vents (Chu). Using this technique scientists gained strong evidence that one of these vents was sitting along the Galapagos Rift. On an expedition in 1977 a group of scientist fell upon a colossal discovery that gave proof to the outlandish theory (Chu). Using a submersible named Alvin researchers were able to view the sea floor from the oceans surface through photographs. They were in for a tremendous supreme.

Not only did Alvin reveal the presence of hydrothermal vents but of a whole ecosystem of life. This essential discovery shocked and dumbfounded scientists all over the world. For the next two years Alvin would journey back to vent sites to get a better understanding of their existence. In 1979 this amazing sub captured another intriguing image. A 65 foot, chimney shaped vent spewing out black smoke. These vents would become known as black smokers (hence the black smoke), and soon after white smokers where discovered.

Since, scientists on a quest to find out more about these marvelous structures have learned amazing things about their location, life span, biology and about the strange animals that inhabit them. Still today researchers are figuring out new and interesting things about these vents that will help us answer many of the questions the discovery of these geological structures have presented us with. Chemistry of Hydrothermal Vents It is important to know how hydrothermal vents are made, and how they work to get a good idea about the larger ecosystem that lives upon it. On the oceans floor the earths tectonic plates stretch and move forming small fissures (cracks) in the surface of the ocean floor. When this happens the mineral rich, freezing cold water seeps into these cracks and comes in contact with the magma that is constantly bubbling towards the center of our earth. Sulfuric minerals in the water crystallizes when exposed to the high temperatures, turning itself directly into volcanic rock (Chu).

This will become the foundation of the vent. Eventually, this foundation becomes plumes, a hollow structure that constantly spews hot, mineral rich water. This natural architecture creates hydrothermal circulation. This is the process in which certain minerals are lost and gained while cycling through the hydrothermal vent (Ebay). When scientists look at hydrothermal circulation they brake it up into three phases; the recharge zone, the high temperature reaction zone and the up flow zone. The recharge zone occurs when cold water penetrates the ocean floor.

There is a strong thermodynamic drive to remove Magnesium from the water that is traveling into the rock, and acid is produced in the process, which then makes other elements and metals from the rock transition into the mineral packed solution. Then, sulfate is removed by precipitation which reduces it to hydrogen sulfide. During the high temperature reaction zone the water is superheated, and many elements such as pressure, temperature and rock composition determine the fluids state. The up flow zone occurs when the water passing through the vent becomes buoyant and rises out of the plume. When this extraordinarily hot fluid (up to 750 F) meets the freezing cold water (as low as 35 F) the fluid then becomes saturated and gains such minerals as Copper, Iron, Zinc and Sulfur (Gramm).

This liquid also carries microbes, tiny bacteria that are originally in the rock, and catch a ride with the liquid that is constantly gushing out of the plume (Mr. McGuinness). This fluid is now the smoky black gas that flows out of the hydrothermal vent and gives life to its surrounding community. Hydrothermal Vent Locations The location of an environment is important in crucial to the the types, and varieties of organisms that inhabit it. Hydrothermal vents occur deep under water, at the oceans floor.

There is no depth circumstances in which these vents must lie. Depths of vent sites have been recorded as deep as a mile and as shallow as seven hundred meters (Tyson). After studying the geographic locations of the hydrothermal vents, scientists discovered that there are certain areas around the globe in which hydrothermal vents are more active then others. The mid ocean ridge is the sight at which the most hydrothermal vent activity occurs. In most instances these vents are found along the crests of this ridge and create linear zones (Chu). An example of this is the East Pacific Rise.

Why Hydrothermal Vents are Important Hydrothermal vents are not only extremely important because of the resources they may potently provide us with in the future but also to the fragile balance in which our world relies on. For example, these vents play a essential role in regulating the temperature and chemical balance of our oceans (Tyson). The bacteria that live in this environment produces enzymes that speed up chemical and biological reactions. Animals that inhabit these areas may contain substances that can b...


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Research essay sample on Hydrothermal Vents Ocean Floor

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