Connecting Hydrothermal Vents to Plate Tectonics

WebQuest

Hydrothermal vents are found in deep ocean waters along the Mid-Ocean Ridges. The chemical compounds that spew out of these cracks along the ocean floor create black and white smokers and unique ecosystems of chemosynthethic organisms. The following web activities have been designed to help students develop a better understanding of these ecosystems and how it connects to plate tectonics and possible the beginning of life on Earth.

Part I. Vent Biology

  • Go to the following website:

Checkout the differences between photosynthesis vs. chemosynthesis by clicking the numbers on the plant and the black smoker

  • State the differences on your paper

Part II. Thermophiles

  • Go to the following website:

Checkout the article Bacteria at Hydrothermal Vents and answer the following questions:

  1. What are thermophiles?
  2. What do thermophiles eat?
  3. What three things are required for life to exist as we know it?
  4. What is your opinion on “Can studying thermophiles at deep-sea vents help us in our search for evidence of past and present life on other planets?” (Include an explanation)
  5. List three ways thermophiles are used by man.

Part III. Oceanographic Tools

  • On the same page on the Left hand side are several topics. Find “Oceanographic Tools” and click Finding Telltale Hydrothermal Plumes with MAPRs

Read the article and then answer the following questions

  1. What does MAPRs stand for?
  2. What are MAPRs and how do they detect hydrothermal plumes?
  3. How many MAPRs are usually used at one time?

Next go to the bottom of the screen and click “for Teacher” that page will take you to

Hands-On Exploration (rough at the middle of the page) click “Activities” from

Expedition 12 and then click Interactive Jigsaw puzzle –Do the puzzle and when you

finish the picture will reveal a ship and the tools used to find a hydrothermal plume.

  • Tell your teacher when finished so this activity will can checked as completed-Separate CLWK grade

Part IV. The Discovery of Hydrothermal Vents and the finding of plumes

  • Go to the bottom of the page you were on in Part III and click “For Teachers” then click the article on the right-hand side “The Discovery of Hydrothermal Vents”

Read the article and write down 5 things you learned about Hydrothermal Vents

Part V. Connections

  • You are reaching the end of your journey. Answer this last question and then turn in.
  • What is the connection between hydrothermal vents, origins of life, and Plate Tectonics?

After you finish this assignment do the following

  • Put your Name and Block # on paper
  • Save it under Word Documents put your name within the file name
  • Go to My Computer and click on Temporary Storage and then Studentthen drag document

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