Earth and the Environment

Why are some of the springs in hydrothermal vents named "black smokers"?

Link to this answer

CloseClose

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/why-some-springs-hydrothermal-vents-named-black-smokers-89827.html" >Why are some of the springs in hydrothermal vents named "black smokers"?</a>
E-mail this answer Link to this answer

The disolved minerals precipitate when they hit the cold ocean water, in some cases creating dark, billowing clouds (hence the name "black smokers" for some of the springs) and settling to build large chimneylike structures.

Answer verified with
Get more facts and information about hydrothermal vent . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

Similar questions: For what reason are some of the springs in hydrothermal vents named "black smokers"? Why are some of the springs in hydrothermal vents called "black smokers"? [ Hide these questions ]

Related research questions

Related research articles

See all results at HighBeam

HighBeam gives you access to newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles plus press releases, facts, information, and biographies from thousands of sources.