Photograph of three small (~30-cm or 12-in tall) actively venting spires sitting on top of one of the chimneys in the Black Forest vent field. The chimneys themselves are about 7 m (23 ft) tall. The fluids here are venting at 240ºC and are expelling black (mineral-rich) smoke into the ocean. Image courtesy of Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program.
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