hydrothermal vent

noun

, Oceanography, Geology.

1. an opening on the floor of the sea from which hot, mineral-rich solutions issue. Compare vent ¹( def 2 ).

hydrothermal vent

1. A fissure on the floor of a sea out of which flows water that has been heated by underlying magma. The water can be as hot as 400°C (752°F) and usually contains dissolved minerals that precipitate out of it upon contact with the colder seawater, building a stack of minerals, or chimney . Hydrothermal vents form an ecosystem for microbes and animals, such as tubeworms, giant clams, and blind shrimp, that can withstand the hostile environment.
2. ◆ The hottest hydrothermal vents are called black smokers because they spew iron and sulfide which combine to form iron monosulfide, a black compound.

Example Sentences

It will also carry a vast array of sensors that will allow it to detect the chemical signatures of hydrothermal vents or low-temperature seeps.

From Popular-Science

Earth’s hot springs and hydrothermal vents are home to a previously unidentified group of archaea.

From Science News