This is a small, ice cream cone-shaped chimney located near the base of Five Towers.


This is a small, ice-cream-cone-shaped chimney located near the base of Five Towers, which shows the affects of hydrothermal fluid boiling on the sea floor. In the first photo (left) you can clearly see a white bubble coming out near the top (left-hand side) of the chimney. This is the gas phase. The shimmer in the background is hot water (~220ºC) escaping from the same chimney. This is the liquid phase. The next two photographs show the initial bubble forming a train of smaller droplets as they pour into the ocean. This is rarely seen in submarine hydrothermal systems! Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program.

 

Related Links

Submarine Ring of Fire 2004

Submarine Ring of Fire 2004: April 6 Log

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery

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