Bring the ocean to your inbox
Discovered in 1979 not far from the Galápagos Islands, the Rose Garden was an ocean scientist’s paradise, a hydrothermal vent site where six-foot tubeworms swayed in the shimmering breeze of warm vent fluids like slender flowers atop tall stems. When scientists returned to the Galápagos Ridge in 2002, however, they found that Rose Garden had been paved over, probably by fresh lava by a recent submarine volcanic eruption. But they discovered a new site, with juvenile tubeworms, which they called "Rosebud," shown here. Tim Shank is currently leading another expedition to the region to to explore newly discovered signs of black smoker hydrothermal vents, to re-visit the oldest known vent fields, and to examine nearby geologic features. (Photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives)
Text, images, graphics and other material contained on this website are subject to copyright. For more information or to license material, please contact the Director of Digital Assets, images@whoi.edu or (508) 289-2647.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the ocean and its connection with the Earth system through a sustained commitment to excellence in science, engineering, and education, and to the application of this knowledge to problems facing society. Learn more »