brinepools

A brine pool is a body of very dense, saline water that accumulates at the bottom of a body of water, most commonly in the ocean. These pools are formed when water with an extremely high salt concentration, often from dissolved salt deposits or from evaporation in a shallow, enclosed basin, flows downhill due to its increased density and collects in depressions on the seafloor. The high salinity creates a stark boundary between the brine pool and the surrounding, less saline water, often referred to as a "lakeline."

The water within brine pools is typically anoxic, meaning it lacks dissolved oxygen. This anoxic condition is due to the density stratification, which prevents mixing with the oxygenated surface waters, and often the high concentration of dissolved organic matter that consumes oxygen. Consequently, life within a brine pool is scarce and highly specialized, usually consisting of chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea that can survive in these extreme environments.

Brine pools are found in various locations worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. They can range in size from a few meters to several kilometers across. Researchers study brine pools to understand extremophile life, geological processes, and the potential for life in similar environments on other planets. The unique chemical and physical conditions also make them valuable sites for studying the long-term effects of oil and gas seepage.