Cave diving scientists
![Dive Safety Officer (DSO) Jake Emmert from Moody Gardens Aquarium enters a flooded coastal cave beneath the tropical forest](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/EntryIntoBang.jpg?itok=1EfQIp2h)
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.