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Cave diving scientists

Detailed Description

Dive Safety Officer (DSO) Jake Emmert from Moody Gardens Aquarium enters a flooded coastal cave beneath the tropical forest of the Yucatan Peninsula through a small open-water pool, locally known as a cenote.  Cave diving scientists John Pohlman (USGS) and David Brankovits (USGS/WHOI) will use these entrances over the coming days to access a vast network of passages where they are investigating ecosystem dynamics and ground water quality in this rapidly developing region. The USGS-led team will install a variety of devices specifically designed to sample and collect data this extreme environment to test the hypothesis that the ecosystem found deep with the caves utilizes methane as a food resource.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.