BRINE POOL

'Brine pools' are large areas of brine on the ocean basin near cold seep vents which release methane into the water. These pools are concentrations of water having an extremely high salinity as compared to the surrounding ocean, caused by the motion of large salt deposits through salt tectonics. Methane is also in high concentration in these areas, providing energy by the process of chemosynthesis to creatures which live in the pool's vicinity. These creatures are often extremophiles.^[1]

Contents

Characteristics of brine pools

Effect on submarines

References

Characteristics of brine pools

Brine pools are considered "lakes" within the ocean by many oceanographers. This is due to the high salinity of the water in the pool, which prevents water of lower salinity from entering and creates a distinct surface and shoreline for the pool.^[2]

Effect on submarines

Submarines which come across brine pools float on top of brine pools, creating ripples that cause the surrounding habitat, the "shore", to bob up and down. ^[3]

References

1. Extremophile life near brine pools
2. NOAA exploration of a brine pool
3. National Geographic's Series "Naked Science: ep. The Deep"