Question

Hydrothermal springs seem to be located near __________.

(a) passive continental margins
(b) active areas of seafloor spreading
(c) the edges of the deep sea trenches
(d) the margins of the Hawaiian chain
(e) on the abyssal plains

Answer 1

Hydrothermal springs are primarily located near b. active areas of seafloor spreading in the oceans, such as the East Pacific Rise.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hydrothermal springs are primarily located near active areas of seafloor spreading.

Hydrothermal springs are formed when seawater interacts with hot magma beneath the seafloor in areas of seafloor spreading. This interaction heats the seawater and causes it to rise back to the surface, creating hydrothermal vents. These vents are commonly found along mid-ocean ridges where seafloor spreading is occurring.

A great example of hydrothermal springs located near active areas of seafloor spreading is the East Pacific Rise, a divergent plate boundary in the eastern Pacific Ocean.