Deep beneath the Red Sea, there’s one of the most extreme conditions on Earth that even marine life cannot survive in. Brine pools are underwater lakes rich in salt and other chemicals. Although they are extremely hazardous, life has found its way into the pools.
Brine Pools
Seafloor depressions become filled with brine pools after hydrothermal vents and tectonic activity. The high salinity inside the depressions means that surrounding seawater doesn’t mix with the pool, creating an underwater “lake.”
Supporting Life
These underground pools have eight times more salt than the surrounding seawater. Despite not having any oxygen, they support chemosynthetic life, which feeds on the hydrogen sulfide and methane prevalent in the pools.
Microbial Life
The harsh conditions that spell doom for other organisms also house the perfect environment for microbial life. The microbes have a specialized method of converting surrounding chemicals into energy. These life forms could offer insights into extraterrestrial life.
Ecosystems
While the extremophilic microbes are perfectly suited to the environment in the brine pools, other marine life cannot survive the extreme salinity and lack of oxygen. Fish and other marine life that do wander into them have a quick demise.
Dangers To Marine Life
The brine pools may attract passing fish towards them, but any marine organism other than microbial ones that venture into the brine pools will quickly face paralysis due to the toxic salt levels. Organisms that die in the brine pools can stay preserved for many years.
Scientific Discoveries
Recently, a new set of brine pools was discovered in the Gulf of Aqaba, located at the northern tip of the Red Sea. Researchers used remotely operated vehicles to discover these important pools that could give them insight into extreme marine environments and how life adapts.
Geological Records
Brine pools are incredibly insightful as they can preserve evidence of many events throughout the world’s history, including tsunamis and earthquakes. Studying these ancient disasters could help scientists predict future events.
Biotechnical Potential
Studying the microbial life that lives in these brine pools has the potential for biotechnical advancements. The microbes produce enzymes called extremozymes that can function in extreme environments. If they can be further researched, there are implications for medicine and other scientific endeavors.
The Origins Of Life
The extreme conditions that are present in brine pools are startingly similar to conditions from millions of years ago. Researchers could use these to better understand the the origins of life and use them as an analog for prehistoric earth environments.
Challenges
Studying brine pools is not without its challenges. They form under extreme conditions and in hazardous environments in the Red Sea, meaning that expensive unmanned vehicles are needed to study them further.
Environmental Significance
The life that thrives in the brine pools in the Red Sea shows the resilience of life under the extreme conditions that have been present for millions of years. These unique marine systems must be preserved for future research.
A Window Into Earth’s History
The brine pools are only somewhat recently being studied and are a frontier for researchers. They show us a window into Earth’s past and help us better understand the limits of life – being perfect for some while being deadly to others.
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