The ocean is a vast and mysterious place, full of wonders that are often hidden from our eyes. One of these wonders is the deep-sea coral reef, a complex and diverse ecosystem that thrives in the dark depths of the sea.
These reefs are home to a variety of marine life, from colorful fish and crustaceans to sharks and octopuses. They also provide important services to the ocean, such as filtering water, recycling nutrients, and sequestering carbon.
However, deep-sea coral reefs are not well-studied or understood, mainly because of the challenges and costs of exploring them. Until recently, scientists had only a vague idea of the size and distribution of these reefs, especially in the Atlantic Ocean.
But thanks to new advances in underwater mapping technology, a team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery: the largest known deep-sea coral reef off the US Atlantic coast, stretching hundreds of miles from Florida to South Carolina.
The Discovery of the Million Mounds Reef
Hiroko Yoshii/Unsplash
The reef, dubbed the Million Mounds Reef by the scientists, was mapped and revealed by a collaborative project involving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Ocean Exploration Trust, Temple University, and other institutions.
The project used high-resolution sonar devices mounted on ships and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to scan the ocean floor and create 3D images of the reef.
The results were astonishing: the reef covers an area of 6.4 million acres, nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
It consists of thousands of coral mounds, some as tall as 300 feet, that rise from the seafloor at depths ranging from 655 to 3,280 feet. The reef is composed mainly of a species of coral called Lophelia pertusa, which forms hard, branching structures that provide shelter and food for other organisms.
The reef is also remarkably old, dating back to the last ice age, when sea levels were lower and the reef was closer to the surface.
Over time, as the sea level rose, the reef adapted to the changing conditions and continued to grow in the deep sea. The reef is still growing today, albeit at a very slow rate of about one inch per year.
The discovery of the Million Mounds Reef has significant implications for science, conservation, and society. It adds to our knowledge and appreciation of the biodiversity and beauty of the deep sea, as well as its role in the functioning of the ocean and the planet.
It also opens up new opportunities for research and exploration, as the reef is likely to harbor many undiscovered species and secrets.
However, the discovery also poses some challenges and threats to the reef and its inhabitants. The reef is vulnerable to human activities, such as fishing, oil and gas drilling, mining, and climate change, that can damage or destroy its fragile structure and function.
The reef is also difficult to protect, as it lies beyond the jurisdiction of any single country or agency. Therefore, the scientists who discovered the reef are calling for more awareness, cooperation, and action to safeguard this hidden world of wonder for future generations.
