December 26, 2020: Blue Hole
Image courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory. Download larger version (jpg, 674 KB).
Blue holes are underwater sinkholes, similar to sinkholes on land. While they vary in size, shape, and depth, most blue holes are ecological hotspots with a high diversity of abundance of marine life, serving as an oasis in an otherwise barren seafloor. The seawater chemistry in the holes is unique and appears to interact with groundwater and possibly aquifer layers. Despite their potential importance to the overall ocean ecosystem, little is known about blue holes due to limited accessibility and unknown distribution and abundance.
In May and September 2019, a team of scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University/Harbor Branch, Georgia Institute of Technology and the U.S. Geological Society, with support from the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, explored one blue hole, dubbed “Amberjack Hole,” approximately 30 miles offshore west of Sarasota. This image shows a diver’s view looking up to the opening of Amberjack Hole.
From: Scientists Embark on Journey to the “Deep” to Explore Blue Holes.