How extreme is the deep sea? What does it take to flourish along a mid-ocean spreading center 2500 meters below sea level?

Characterized by crushing pressure, near freezing temperatures, and no light, the deep sea is the largest environment on Earth. Hot hydrothermal vents and cold hydrocarbon seeps found on the seafloor host lush communities of animals. Scientists from a variety of disciplines are currently conducting investigations to learn more about features that make these seafloor ecosystems extreme and unique. Join the scientists in the Ridge 2000 program and associated research programs by participating in GLOBE FLEXE.

From Local to Extreme Environments (FLEXE) is a GLOBE project involving study of the deep ocean led by Pennsylvania State University in partnership with Ridge 2000 and InterRIDGE scientists. Through comparative protocols and online interactions with project scientists and partner schools, students gain an understanding of local and the deep-sea environments, the interconnected Earth system, and the process of science. FLEXE students collect data from their local environment and compare it with data from an extreme deep-sea environment. Scientists guide students in their analysis of deep-sea data through the on-line FLEXE Forum. Scientific reporting, peer review, and communication with scientists at sea during a research cruise cap the students' experience.

The FLEXE Project, led by Pennsylvania State University, links deep sea scientists in the Ridge 2000 community with students and teachers in the GLOBE community. For more information about the project and links to FLEXE activities, visit the FLEXE Project website.

Ridge 2000 (Sponsored by NSF) is an interdisciplinary initiative to study Earth's oceanic spreading ridge system as an integrated whole, from its inception in the mantle to its manifestations in the biosphere and water column. InterRIDGE promotes interdisciplinary, international studies of oceanic spreading centers by creating a global research community, planning and coordinating new science programs. InterRidge is dedicated to reaching out to the public, scientists and governments, and to providing a unified voice for ocean ridge researchers worldwide.