- Researchers set out to explore one of the ocean’s biggest mysteries: a kind of sinkhole in the ocean supply, known as a ‘blue hole’.
- Blue holes are enormous caves beneath the sea wall cut out by an unknown force, although scientists believe that there may be sober water sources in them.
- The expedition is funded by NOAA.
It is said that we know more about space than we do about what lies in the deepest reach of the earth’s oceans. The appearance of mysterious “blue holes” on the ocean floor is a great reminder that the oceans still have some secrets to tell, and one particular blue hole is about to get the attention it deserves.
The hole has been round for a while, although it has rarely been studied. It is actually a sinkhole in the ocean floor, creating a cave. The hole is located off the coast of Florida and has the nickname ‘Green Banana’.
As de Independent reports, a mission to explore the Green Banana begins this month. It is currently believed that the sinkhole extends about 300 feet deep into the ocean bay, but there are still many unanswered questions about and how it formed.
One of the more pressing questions is whether the water in the hole is different from the ocean water above. It is thought that freshwater springs may be what creates these holes, flushing the material out under the sea wall and eventually creating a hole. The Green Banana is known for the multitude of life around it, including fish and aquatic plants, so understanding what else can happen in this area is important for researchers.
Divers love exploring the area because the water is crystal clear compared to the surrounding ocean, and researchers think there is something very special about it. To figure that out, they throw a massive piece of hardware in the hole. Almost like a probe that would send NASA to another world, the large ‘lander’ will be placed in the Green Banana while scientists collect samples and try to find differences between the environment inside the blue hole and outside it.
The mission is funded by NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The group is envious of these strange features of the ocean floor and wants to learn as much as possible about them. It is theoretical that blue holes that occur close to each other can be connected in one way or another, such as an underground network of springs that have helped the ocean sediment and created a kind of cave network that remains hidden.
Solving the mysteries of the blue holes will be challenging, but there is no telling what might be discovered when the researchers begin their analysis. It’s like exploring another world, only more watery.
Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games for the past decade, covering breaking news and trends in VR, wearables, smartphones, and future tech. Most recently, Mike served as Tech Editor at The Daily Dot, and has appeared in USA Today, Time.com, and countless other web and print stores. His love for reporting is second only to his gaming addiction.
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