Northwesterly view off Cape York. Depths are colored red (shallow) to blue (deep), over a depth range of about 50 meters (164 feet). Image via James Cook University.
A team of researchers working with laser data from the Royal Australian Navy have discovered a vast reef system behind Australia’s familiar Great Barrier Reef.
Thea researchers say that the high-resolution seafloor data have revealed great fields of unusual donut-shaped circular mounds, called bioherms, each 200-300 meters (656-984 feet) across and up to 10 meters (33 feet) deep at the center.
Robin Beaman, of James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, is a coauthor the study, published in the journal Coral Reefs on August 26, 2016. Beaman said in a statement that the discovery was it an astounding revelation. He said:
We’ve known about these geological structures in the northern Great Barrier Reef since the 1970s and 80s, but never before has the true nature of their shape, size and vast scale been revealed.
The deeper seafloor behind the familiar coral reefs amazed us.
The bioherms are reef-like geological structures formed by the growth of a common green algae – called Halimeda – that’s composed of living calcified segments. When they die, the algae form small limestone flakes that look like white cornflakes. Over time these flakes build up into large reef-like mounds, or bioherms.
Mardi McNeil from Queensland University of Technology is lead author of the paper. McNeil said the extent of the bioherms is vast.
We’ve now mapped over 6,000 square kilometers [2,316 square miles]. That’s three times the previously estimated size … They clearly form a significant inter-reef habitat which covers an area greater than the adjacent coral reefs.
The researchers wonder about the bioherm field’s vulnerability to climate change even more pressing. As a calcifying organism, the Halimeda might be susceptible to ocean acidification and warming, the researchers say.
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Bottom line: Researchers have discovered a vast reef system behind Australia’s familiar Great Barrier Reef.
Read more from James Cook University
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2bFyKny
Northwesterly view off Cape York. Depths are colored red (shallow) to blue (deep), over a depth range of about 50 meters (164 feet). Image via James Cook University.
A team of researchers working with laser data from the Royal Australian Navy have discovered a vast reef system behind Australia’s familiar Great Barrier Reef.
Thea researchers say that the high-resolution seafloor data have revealed great fields of unusual donut-shaped circular mounds, called bioherms, each 200-300 meters (656-984 feet) across and up to 10 meters (33 feet) deep at the center.
Robin Beaman, of James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, is a coauthor the study, published in the journal Coral Reefs on August 26, 2016. Beaman said in a statement that the discovery was it an astounding revelation. He said:
We’ve known about these geological structures in the northern Great Barrier Reef since the 1970s and 80s, but never before has the true nature of their shape, size and vast scale been revealed.
The deeper seafloor behind the familiar coral reefs amazed us.
The bioherms are reef-like geological structures formed by the growth of a common green algae – called Halimeda – that’s composed of living calcified segments. When they die, the algae form small limestone flakes that look like white cornflakes. Over time these flakes build up into large reef-like mounds, or bioherms.
Mardi McNeil from Queensland University of Technology is lead author of the paper. McNeil said the extent of the bioherms is vast.
We’ve now mapped over 6,000 square kilometers [2,316 square miles]. That’s three times the previously estimated size … They clearly form a significant inter-reef habitat which covers an area greater than the adjacent coral reefs.
The researchers wonder about the bioherm field’s vulnerability to climate change even more pressing. As a calcifying organism, the Halimeda might be susceptible to ocean acidification and warming, the researchers say.
Enjoying EarthSky? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
Bottom line: Researchers have discovered a vast reef system behind Australia’s familiar Great Barrier Reef.
Read more from James Cook University
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2bFyKny
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