e Science Of Hydrothermal Vents by Michael J Leach at Spillwords.com

The Science Of Hydrothermal Vents

The Science of Hydrothermal Vents

written by:  Michael J Leach

 

 

While much of the seafloor is relatively
calm and stable, the areas at tectonic
                                                 plate boundaries are far from it.
The same forces that create and destroy
sections of the Earth’s crust produce
                                                volcanoes, hydrothermal vents,
                     geologic hazards, and more.

These phenomena range from beautiful
and benign to                 potentially deadly,
and, like everything else miles
below the surface,
much remains
unknown to scientists.

‘Nautilus’ hosts scientists studying
all facets of marine geology,
all trying to better
understand the mysteries
of the Earth.
The processes that form
hydrothermal vents are complicated,

beginning when water is forced
beneath the Earth’s crust.
It is superheated by tectonic forces
and loaded with chemicals before
                                                                     jetting back out into the open ocean.
Those chemicals precipitate in
the cold ocean water to form
                                                               beautiful
                                                                                 chimneys 
                                                                                                     and spires.

 

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

This poem was found amidst scientific information on the Nautilus Live website:
Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. n.d., The Science of Deep Sea Exploration, Old Lyme, Connecticut, viewed 27 May 2018.

Latest posts by Michael J Leach (see all)