Posted on 08/12/2005 1:30:24 PM PDT by Red Badger
Researchers have found the world's northernmost underwater hot springs, spouting out of the seabed in the otherwise chilly waters of the Norwegian Sea. It's a veritable oasis featuring tropical-like coral and unusual plant life.
The underwater hot springs were found at a depth of 600 meters on the so-called "Mohnsryggen" north of the Arctic island of Jan Mayen, where Norway maintains a weather station and military presence. Researchers made the discovery during an international expedition this summer.
The researchers were assisted by techological equipment on board the research vessel GO Sars and the remote-controlled mini-submarine Bathysaurus.
Their eyes widened when the mini-sub glided into an underwater forest of sorts, featuring pinnacles from which streamed water as hot as 250 degrees C.
Around the pinnacles (called skorstein in Norwegian) the researchers could see rich sea life including shrimps, sea spiders, coral and eel. "It was like looking into a fantasy world," said Pedersen, who led the international expedition. The discovery can yield new knowledge about the early history of plantlife and life under water in general. "The area lies within the Norwegian economic zone, so we have found a unique new portion of Norwegian nature," Professor Rolf B Pedersen of the University of Bergen told newspaper Aftenposten.
He and his colleagues think the discovery can offer new insight into the earliest forms of life. "Life that can adapt to extreme conditions can have extreme characteristics," Pedersen said, adding that they can be valuable to such fields as medicine, pollution control and genetics.
It's not common to see coral like this thriving in the waters of the Arctic.
These two five- to 10-meter-high pinnacles were found at a depth of 600 meters. The mini-submarine Bathysaurus has been a big help to the researchers from the University of Bergen.
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN
The mini-submarine Bathysaurus has been a big help to the researchers from the University of Bergen.
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF BERGEN
Mankind is part of the earth. Why is coral worth saving, but not man?
Do you feel stupid yet?
Back slowly away from the KoolAid.
I don't remember if it's ocean currents or what, but this small area is very tropical.
(...and we're talking on shore, not under wa-wa!)
Weak spot or fissure in the mantle
Beautiful and so unexpected. It always reminds me that even as we explore space, there is much to discover in our own world.
I started out studying environmental isssues (specifically atmospheric chemistry) back in 1970, so my "eyes are open". Unfortunately, YOU have bought the eco-freak propaganda--hook, line, and stinker. Far from destroying the earth, things have measureably improved since those early days.
Life and consciousness are the most precious things we have. Pain never killed anyone. Once I'm dead I will feel no pain so if I hurt, I know I'm alive and that's the way I want to be. Its the human condition - get used to it.
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