image: Regional and ridge crest maps of the East Pacific Rise. (A) Regional map showing the topography of Central America and the bathymetry of the East Pacific. The star marks the location of the study site, 9°N vent field. Mesoscale eddies impacting the East Pacific Rise are primarily generated in the Gulfs of Tehuantepec and Papagayo. Map created in GeoMapApp. (B) High resolution bathymetry at part of the 9°N vent field (red star in A) showing the near-vent study sites at East Wall and Choo Choo and the off-axis study site (circles). Depth contours, 2 m. Tick marks and scale bar, 200 m. This image relates to an article that appeared in the April 29, 2011, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The study, by Dr. Diane Adams of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass., and colleagues, was titled, "Surface-Generated Mesoscale Eddies Transport Deep-Sea Products from Hydrothermal Vents." view more
Credit: [© D. Adams, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution]