Multimedia Gallery - Axial Seamount in the deep ocean, and a snowblower vent with bacterial mats surrounding.

Photo of Axial Seamount subshowing showing vent surrounded with bacterial mats.

August 24, 2011

Axial Seamount in the deep ocean, and a "snowblower" vent with bacterial mats surrounding.

This image looks into the subsurface at Axial Seamount and shows a "snowblower" vent, a collapsed lobate lava flow about 1 meter (3 feet) across with white materials (bacterial mats and biofilm materials that coat the surfaces) thriving in nutrient-rich waters that are slightly above ambient (2 degrees C) temperature. White, dense accumulations of filamentous bacteria surround the snowblower.

Credit: Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility and the University of Washington

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