Deep Sea Vents
Part of Curriculum Collections.
The deep oceans are Earth's last undiscovered frontier. And the deep sea vent communities are weird enough to convince your students that this is one science topic well worth studying! These resources will help your students make real-world connections to biology, geology, and chemistry. They'll also master many important science skills, including skills in research (on and off the Web), observation, description, and analysis.
Article
Global Ocean Circulation and Deep Sea Temperatures
At the ocean's surface, winds create waves and currents. So why, then, are there currents moving all the way down at the deepest...
Game
Find a Vent
Climb aboard a virtual expedition in search of a deep sea vent.
Educator Materials
Underwater Plume
With the help of three friends, you can create your own mini underwater geyser. All you'll need is a soda bottle, a baby food jar,...
Educator Materials
It's Aliiive--Or Is It?
Scientists have found life everywhere they've looked on Earth—even at the bottom of the ocean, where conditions are extreme. Investigate...
Educator Materials
Simple Submarine
Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Dive, dive. Build your own mini submarines for a deeper look at how they work. No expensive supplies required—just...
Educator Materials
Sinking Water
If you've spent even a few hours in a pool, you know that the deep end is colder than the shallow. But do you know why? Experiment...
Educator Materials
Under Pressure
Why does pressure increase the deeper you go in the ocean? And does this building pressure change the way water flows? Fill a soda...
Article
Dispatch from the Deep: Shaping the Ocean Floor at the Mid-Ocean Ridges
Did you know that the island of Iceland is really just the peak of an underwater mountain? What other land forms lie hidden beneath...
Article
The Chemistry of Deep Sea Vents
Valuable ore deposits of iron, copper, and zinc—all formed by deep sea vents and thrust up onto land. If you want to know how mineral...
Article
Dispatches from the Deep: Light and Dark in the Sea
Only the top 200 meters (656 feet) of the ocean get enough light to support plants. Below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), there's complete...
Article
Weather Conditions Over the Deep Seas
What does it take to send a crew to the bottom of the ocean? A sub with 14-inch-thick walls made of a titanium-steel alloy—and a...
Article
First Day at Sea and Exploration Vessels
Set sail with a team of teachers and scientists studying deep sea vents off the coast of Washington State. Experience the first day...
Article
Veronique Robigou
Marine geologist Veronique Robigou discusses the exciting research being done at the bottom of the ocean.
Article
Pressure in the Deep Seas
How pressurized is the ocean floor? Imagine an elephant standing on your big toe—then apply that pressure to your whole body. But...
Article
Cindy Lee Van Dover
For oceanographers, the work they do at sea is just the beginning. Learn more about the discoveries made by one scientist who completed...
Educator Materials
Going Deep Under the Sea
What does it take to send a crew to the bottom of the ocean? A sub with 14-inch-thick walls made of a titanium-steel alloy—and a...
Article
One REVEL Teacher, Many Monkeys Fists
What are "monkey's fists" doing out at sea? This type of seaman's knot is being used to deploy deep sea thermometers. Find...
Article
Dispatch from the Deep: Home Again
From Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean and back again. Experience the final day of an expedition to study deep sea vents with this...
Article
Hydrothermal Vent Formation
Submarine hot springs, called hydrothermal vents, spew out mineral-rich hot water. What do scientists hope to learn by tracking the...
Article
Deep Sea Vents Web List
Want to dive deeper into the study of deep sea vents? Tour an active submarine volcano, ride the "Global Conveyor Belt for Heat,"...