Scientists are preparing to explore a mysterious 425-foot underwater sinkhole off the Florida coast called ‘Green Banana’
- Next month an expedition to explore the ‘blue hole’ will begin
- The ‘green banana’ stretches 425 feet below the ocean floor
- Sink content like ‘Green Banana’ remains mysterious
- Other underwater sinks have been shown to contain diverse biological life
An expedition off the Florida coast will explore a mysterious sinkhole that stretches 425 feet below the ocean floor.
Next month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will explore for the first time the rift, an underwater sink called the “blue hole.”
The content of the blue holes is still quite mysterious, as is their typical frequency and location. According to NOAA, its depth and structure can also make it difficult to access.
‘Blue holes’ like the Amberjack (pictured) have been the subject of previous studies and have been shown to contain a surprising variety of biological diversity.
“The opening of a blue hole can be several hundred feet underwater, and for many holes, the opening is too small for an automated submersible,” writes NOAA,
“In fact, the first reports of blue holes came not from scientists or researchers, but from fishermen and recreational divers.”
NOAA says the yearlong expedition will be in August and will explore a 425-foot deep blue hole known as Green Banana – the sinkhole is 155 feet below the surface.
The team will include scientists from the Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the United States Geological Society.
While the content will remain a mystery until the expedition is complete, previous studies have shown that they can contain a wide range of biological life.
According to NOAA, a blue hole about 30 miles from Sarasota known as the ‘Amberjack Hole’ was explored and found to be an ‘oasis on a sterile sea floor.’
The green banana (pictured) stretches 425 feet below the ocean floor. The opening is 155 feet below the surface and is located on the Florida Gulf Coast.
Among the discoveries were two intact, though dead, small-toothed sawfish, an endangered species. One of the sharks, a 12-foot-long male, was collected for study, according to NOAA.
In addition to looking for new signs of life, scientists are also looking to unlock more details about how sinks form in the first place.
According to NOAA, the researchers will verify if the ocean bottom dive is related to an intrusion from Florida’s groundwater.
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