Notes on Vent Field Description:
Convincing evidence of active hydrothermal circulation on an ultra-slow ridge was first discovered in 1997 at several locations between 58.2° and 65.8°E on the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) during a plume survey using optical sensors
Notes Relevant to Biology:
Year and How Discovered (if active, visual confirmation is listed first):
Discovery References (text):
(plume only) German et al., Nature 395, 490-493, 1998, Hydrothermal activity along the southwest Indian ridge.
Other References (text):
Sauter et al. (2002) TOBI sidescan sonar imagery of the very slow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge: evidence for along-axis magma distribution. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 199: 81-95.