Life and chemistry at deep-sea hydrothermal vents

This diagram reveals the complex layers of a hydrothermal vent ecosystem, from 2°C seawater to 350°C vent fluid. Microbes thrive in distinct zones, using sulfur, hydrogen, and CO? for energy and growth. These organisms drive vital processes like CO? fixation, methanogenesis, and sulfate reduction, fueling deep-sea life and cycling carbon and minerals. (Illustration by Jack Cook, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)