Project Summary

In the middle of the Atlantic there is an oasis of hot water arising from the deep sea floor. It provides a habitat for exotic biological communities that flourish in the complete absence of sunlight. Using seismic refraction data, Woods Hole scientists will probe deep within the earth’s crust to try and find the heat source that is fueling this exotic ecosystem. Understanding how geological processes can give rise to life on the deep sea floor helps us understand the conditions that might have caused life to form on earth.