Antarctic deepsea vents

Using Isis, the National Oceanography Centre's deep diving Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) scientists explored the East Scotia Ridge, deep beneath the Southern Ocean. Here, hydrothermal vents, (including 'black smokers' reaching temperatures of up to 382 degrees Celsius) create a unique environment that lacks sunlight, but is rich in certain chemicals. The team, led by the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and British Antarctic Survey, reports its findings in this week's issue of the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Antarctic
• deepsea
• vents