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Fuentes termales submarinas en la grieta de las Galápagos
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 16, 1979
Resumen
La exploración en aguas profundas de los respiraderos hidrotermales del Rift de Galápagos revela su importante papel en la química del océano y la transferencia de calor. Aquí prosperan comunidades animales únicas, que utilizan la quimiosíntesis para obtener energía en lugar de la luz solar.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Geología marina Geología marina.
- La geoquímica es la geoquímica.
- Oceanografía La oceanografía es la oceanografía.
- Biología Biología Biología.
Sus antecedentes:
- La actividad hidrotermal submarina es un proceso geológico clave en entornos oceánicos.
- El Rift de Galápagos es un área geológicamente activa del Océano Pacífico.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para investigar la actividad hidrotermal submarina cerca de la grieta de las Galápagos.
- Para analizar la composición química de los fluidos de ventilación hidrotermal.
- Comprender los procesos de transferencia de calor en la nueva litosfera oceánica.
Principales métodos:
- Exploración con el sumergible profundo Alvin.
- Recopilación y análisis de muestras de agua de fuentes hidrotermales.
- Estudios de transferencia de calor por conducción y convección.
Principales resultados:
- La actividad hidrotermal influye significativamente en la química del agua de mar, actuando como fuentes principales y sumideros para los componentes.
- Aproximadamente dos tercios de la pérdida de calor de la litosfera oceánica joven en la grieta puede ocurrir a través de aguas termales.
- Las áreas de ventilación albergan comunidades animales únicas.
- Estas comunidades utilizan la quimiosíntesis, impulsada por bacterias oxidantes de azufre, para todo su suministro de energía.
Conclusiones:
- Las fuentes hidrotermales del Rift de Galápagos son cruciales para la química del océano y la regulación del calor.
- La quimiosíntesis es la principal fuente de energía para la vida en estos ecosistemas de respiraderos de aguas profundas, independientemente de la fotosíntesis.
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