Hydrothermal Vent

What are hydrothermal vents?

• Fissures on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges

• Mountains under the sea

• Caves filled with water

• Rivers flowing under the ocean

Answer explanation

Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges, making the first answer the correct choice.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Where are hydrothermal vents commonly found?

• In deserts

• Near volcanically active places and mid-ocean ridges

• On top of mountains

• Inside deep forests

Answer explanation

Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places and mid-ocean ridges, where the Earth's tectonic plates meet and create the conditions for these vents to form.

What forms the base of the food chain around hydrothermal vents?

• Small fish

• Chemosynthetic bacteria

• Seaweed

• Plankton

Answer explanation

Chemosynthetic bacteria form the base of the food chain around hydrothermal vents by converting chemicals into energy, which supports other organisms in the ecosystem.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What are black smokers and white smokers?

• Deep-sea creatures

• Types of fish

• Features formed by hydrothermal vents under the sea

• Volcanic rocks

Answer explanation

Black smokers and white smokers are features formed by hydrothermal vents under the sea, not deep-sea creatures, types of fish, or volcanic rocks.

Where else, besides Earth, are active hydrothermal vents thought to exist?

• The Sun

• Mars

• Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus

• Venus

Answer explanation

Active hydrothermal vents are thought to exist on Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, besides Earth.