UK scientists discover deepest undersea vents

UK scientists have discovered an amazing set of hydrothermal vents, the deepest anywhere in the world, in the the ocean floor in the Caribbean.

Hydrothermal vents are among the most unknown features of the deep ocean and their existence was not known until the 1970s. Later on they have been discovered at about 200 sites around the world including the Southern Ocean and the Atlantic. But it was only around 3 ago that vents were first detected in the Cayman Trough, a deep trench formed by the boundary between two tectonic plates.

The expedition was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.

The expedition is being run from a British research ship “James Cook”, named after the 18th century explorer who made discoveries around the Pacific.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2013

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs