Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Secrets of the Gulf Brine Seep Images

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SECRETS OF THE GULF EXPEDITION, MARCH 2007--BRINE SEEP AT EAST FLOWER GARDEN BANK

Following are images taken by the ROV Argus during the Secrets of the Gulf Expedition. These images show the area surrounding a brine seep at the base of East Flower Garden Bank. The super-saline water that is flowing from under the sea floor has created a concentrated brine lake and channel in which only certain bacteria are able to live. This "lake" and "river" within the ocean are only about 10 inches deep but have a very different habitat than their surroundings. Additional expedition images can be viewed at the following links: Start of the Expedition NR-1 Submarine at Sea Sending Broadcasts from the Gulf Argus Mud Volcanoes Deep Reef Habitat Click on a picture below to see a larger, hi-resolution image. Credit for all of these photos goes to Sea Research Foundation (SRF) and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET).
The sea floor beneath the brine lake at East Flower Garden Bank.	Areas of apparent salt encrustation and bacteria on the sea floor beneath the brine lake.
An object lying on the sea floor in the brine lake.	Current patterns on the sea floor beneath the brine lake at East Flower Garden Bank.
A marbled grouper swimming just above the brine lake at East Flower Garden Bank.	A closer view of the brine lake and its apparent salt encrustations.
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Brine lake at the base of East Flower Garden Bank.	One edge of the brine lake at East Flower Garden Bank.
Looking from the brine lake toward the "normal" reef area at its perimeter.	Objects placed within the brine lake as part of research by Eric Powell, Rutgers University.
Small school of jacks swimming over the brine lake.	The brine lake flows through a channel toward a deeper part of the bank.
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A pool of super-saline water visible in the channel leading away from the brine lake.	The depth of the pool of briny water is easily seen where the channel meets the surrounding reef.
Another look at the channel leading away from the brine lake.	Salt encrustations surrounding a pool of briny water.
Ripples visible across the surface of this pool of briny water within the ocean.	Close up view of the briny pool in the channel leading away from the brine lake.
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Juvenile blue tang (fish). Bright yellow body with irridescent blue marking around eye and at top edge of dorsal fin.