Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Secrets of the Gulf Mud Volcano Images

SECRETS OF THE GULF EXPEDITION, MARCH 2007--MUD VOLCANOES

Following are images taken by the ROV Argus during the Secrets of the Gulf Expedition. These images show a couple of different mud volcanos that were visited during the course of the expedition. Instead of magma, methane gas is bubbling up through the sea floor. The resulting cone of sediment resembles a volcano, hence the term "mud volcano". 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 Brine Seep at East Flower Garden Bank 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).
Methane gas bubbling out the top of an undersea mud volcano.	A close up view of the bubbling gas.
View of mud volcano crater with overflow channel running down one side.	Mud volcano crater and overflow trail from another angle.
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Fish swimming above overflow channel on side of mud volcano.	Full view of overflow channel down side of mud volcano. Crater visible at top left.
Long shot of another undersea mud volcano.	A little bit closer look at the same mud volcano.
Close up of a gas plume spouting from the peak of the mud volcano.	Peak of the mud volcano with overflow channel visible to the right.
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