Surprising scientists discovered a new ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean with a depth of 3,800m

The new ecosystem is named Jaich Maa, located at a depth of 3,800m in the Pescadero basin south of the Gulf of California (USA).

Discovered by American and Mexican scientists.

Hydrothermal vents are an attractive phenomenon. They are cracks or undersea chimneys that escape heat from underground activity - usually due to volcanoes.

They are also nutritious oases for life on the seabed. Here, abundance of bacteria eat chemical energy because the vents blow out hydrogen sulfide, called chemical synthesis.

Picture 1 of Surprising scientists discovered a new ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean with a depth of 3,800m
Hydrothermal vents.

Moreover, there are many larger animals that migrate to multiply bacteria, forming food chains. The newly discovered Jaich Maa ecosystem seems to be the most unique form of hydrothermal ventilation. Many limestone mounds rise 25m from the sea floor, venting at temperatures up to 287 degrees C.

Picture 2 of Surprising scientists discovered a new ecosystem at the bottom of the ocean with a depth of 3,800m
Hydrothermal vents.

The largest of these holes is a drip named Tay Ujaa, pouring hydrothermal liquid over the upside-down pond. Ujaa's hand leads into a cave formed by hydrothermal precipitation calcite. A cave contains a sparkling lake and flows like a waterfall.

Hot hydrothermal fluids are about 290 degrees Celsius and seawater is exposed to only about 2 degrees Celsius. Because the two temperature differences lead to different refractive indexes spread on a shimmering layer of water.

Therefore, it is called Jaich Maa which means "liquid metal" in the language of ancient indigenous people living in Mexico. Jaich Maa is not far from the mainland, but it is not a suitable environment for humans, because it lacks oxygen, suffers from ocean pressure and extreme temperatures.

In recent years, advances in robotic technology have allowed the discovery of such challenging underwater environments in detail. Some remote control vehicles have been deployed to explore deeper in the ocean floor.

Researchers used undersea robots to map the seabed in conjunction with remote control vehicles, the team was able to interactively explore and sample animals, bacteria, rocks and sediments.

Among the rich sea creatures on the sea floor, there are unknown scientific species in the area of ​​hydrothermal vents - such as anemones, often found elsewhere in the ocean, densely concentrated. around the calcite mounds. Then came all new creatures with new behavior, like green bacteria.

Hydrothermal vents have biodiversity communities, but there are a few seemingly dominant animals, such as Oasisia, anemones and brilliant blue worms.

One of the behaviors, an unprecedented interaction between two worms, is said to be "thrilling". Researchers need to classify all new species, learn the meaning of new behavior and why the bacteria they find is green.


Video filmed under Pescadero Basin (source: Schmidt Ocean).

They needed detailed mapping, including heat mapping, showing a complex magma flow at the bottom of the Pescadero Basin.

Deep ocean is still the most mysterious world to discover the planet. The Earth map is not as detailed as Mercury, Venus, Mars or the Moon, because it is difficult to map under the ocean. This is the border we cannot cross.