hydrothermal vent fields

Hydrothermal vent fields are underwater ecosystems found along mid-ocean ridges where magma heats seawater, creating mineral-rich, superheated fluids that erupt through the ocean floor. These vents support unique communities of organisms that rely on chemosynthesis—using chemicals like hydrogen sulfide instead of sunlight—to produce energy. These ecosystems are vital for understanding Earth's geology, deep-sea life, and potential origins of life, showcasing an extraordinary habitat formed by geological and chemical processes deep beneath the ocean's surface.