Johnson Sea-Link working on a bush of tubeworms

The Brine Pool is a crater-like depression on the seafloor filled with very concentrated brines coming from the Luann Salt Layer. The brine contains a high concentration of methane gas that supports a surrounding dense mussel bed. (Image based on a mosaic created by Dr. Ian McDonald, Texas A&M University).. Image courtesy of Gulf of Mexico 2002, NOAA/OER.

Related Links

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico: Brine Pool

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery