The chemical enrichment produced by seeps support lush chemosynthetic communities of tube worms, mussel, and other animals that thrive without light at depths of about 2000 feet.
Gas hydrate is an ice-like substance that form under pressure when gas is trapped in water crystals.
World-wide, hydrates may offer an energy supply for the future. At seeps, they are important players in the chemosynthetic ecosystem. At natural seeps, brine sometimes escapes along with the oil and gas. When brine flows out onto the seafloor, its density traps it in pools and rivulets on the bottom. The goal for this portion of the cruise is to complete high-resolution laser line scan mosaics at the MMS study sites GC234, GC233, GC185, and GB425 .