Across the globe, changes in salinity over time generally match changes in precipitation: places where rainfall declines become saltier, while places where rainfall increases become fresher. Where did saltiness change over the past decade?| NOAA Climate.gov
Following are images taken by the ROV Argus during the Secrets of the Gulf Expedition. These images show the area surrounding a brine seep at the base of East Flower Garden Bank. The super-saline water that is flowing from under the sea floor has created a concentrated brine lake and channel in which only certain bacteria are able to live. This "lake" and "river" within the ocean are only about 10 inches deep but have a very different habitat than their surroundings.| flowergarden.noaa.gov
Since Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary does not exist in isolation, it is important to understand the larger context of the surrounding Gulf ecosystem and the watershed that influences the gulf.| flowergarden.noaa.gov