Deep Sea Vents

Part of Curriculum Collections.

The deep oceans are Earth's last undiscovered frontier. And the deep sea vent communities are weird enough to convince your students that this is one science topic well worth studying! These resources will help your students make real-world connections to biology, geology, and chemistry. They'll also master many important science skills, including skills in research (on and off the Web), observation, description, and analysis.

Article Global Ocean Circulation and Deep Sea Temperatures At the ocean's surface, winds create waves and currents. So why, then, are there currents moving all the way down at the deepest... Game Find a Vent Climb aboard a virtual expedition in search of a deep sea vent. Educator Materials Underwater Plume With the help of three friends, you can create your own mini underwater geyser. All you'll need is a soda bottle, a baby food jar,... Educator Materials It's Aliiive--Or Is It? Scientists have found life everywhere they've looked on Earth—even at the bottom of the ocean, where conditions are extreme. Investigate... Educator Materials Simple Submarine Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Dive, dive. Build your own mini submarines for a deeper look at how they work. No expensive supplies required—just... Educator Materials Sinking Water If you've spent even a few hours in a pool, you know that the deep end is colder than the shallow. But do you know why? Experiment... Educator Materials Under Pressure Why does pressure increase the deeper you go in the ocean? And does this building pressure change the way water flows? Fill a soda... Article Dispatch from the Deep: Shaping the Ocean Floor at the Mid-Ocean Ridges Did you know that the island of Iceland is really just the peak of an underwater mountain? What other land forms lie hidden beneath... Article The Chemistry of Deep Sea Vents Valuable ore deposits of iron, copper, and zinc—all formed by deep sea vents and thrust up onto land. If you want to know how mineral... Article Dispatches from the Deep: Light and Dark in the Sea Only the top 200 meters (656 feet) of the ocean get enough light to support plants. Below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), there's complete... Article Weather Conditions Over the Deep Seas What does it take to send a crew to the bottom of the ocean? A sub with 14-inch-thick walls made of a titanium-steel alloy—and a... Article First Day at Sea and Exploration Vessels Set sail with a team of teachers and scientists studying deep sea vents off the coast of Washington State. Experience the first day... Article Veronique Robigou Marine geologist Veronique Robigou discusses the exciting research being done at the bottom of the ocean. Article Pressure in the Deep Seas How pressurized is the ocean floor? Imagine an elephant standing on your big toe—then apply that pressure to your whole body. But... Article Cindy Lee Van Dover For oceanographers, the work they do at sea is just the beginning. Learn more about the discoveries made by one scientist who completed... Educator Materials Going Deep Under the Sea What does it take to send a crew to the bottom of the ocean? A sub with 14-inch-thick walls made of a titanium-steel alloy—and a... Article One REVEL Teacher, Many Monkeys Fists What are "monkey's fists" doing out at sea? This type of seaman's knot is being used to deploy deep sea thermometers. Find... Article Dispatch from the Deep: Home Again From Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean and back again. Experience the final day of an expedition to study deep sea vents with this... Article Hydrothermal Vent Formation Submarine hot springs, called hydrothermal vents, spew out mineral-rich hot water. What do scientists hope to learn by tracking the... Article Deep Sea Vents Web List Want to dive deeper into the study of deep sea vents? Tour an active submarine volcano, ride the "Global Conveyor Belt for Heat,"...