Scientists from Ecosur (Colegio de la Frontera Sur) have found the second deepest “blue gap” on the earth. The ocean cave, which is 274 meters deep, is situated in Chetumal Bay, Mexico, and was named Taam ja – “deep water” within the Mayan language.
The group discovered this gap in September 2021, however not too long ago launched a research in regards to the discovery. This ballot got here out in a difficulty of the journal Frontiers in Marine Sciences.
Learn extra:
“blue gap”
Utilizing dives, water samples and echolocation surveys, the scientists’ work signifies that the “blue gap” has a floor space of 13.7 sq. kilometers and options steep sides, slopes of 80 levels. Its mouth is just below 5 meters under sea stage, the place the water modifications dramatically with temperature and salinity gradients.
When it comes to depth, the crater is second solely to that of Sansha Yongle, China (300 meters lengthy). Nevertheless, the brand new “blue gap” is considerably deeper than the Nice Blue Gap, off the coast of Belize (a rustic in Central America), which is 125 meters deep.
Take a tour of the ocean cave within the video under, posted by Ecosur:
subsequent steps
The researchers who found the Ja bait say that future research ought to analyze the microbial range within the water and perceive what sort of life lives right here. Finding out the construction and geology of this sea cave might also shed some gentle on the ecology and local weather of the distant previous.
In spite of everything, “blue holes” like these fashioned over the last ice age, when sea stage was 100 meters decrease than it’s in the present day. They have been going to start out life as a limestone cave, however when the ocean water rose, it flooded and the roof collapsed. From this a sea cave arose.
Scientists have even found fossils of prehistoric creatures reminiscent of turtles and crocodiles implanted in related holes. It is usually recognized to be a bustling habitat for organisms together with corals, sea turtles, and sharks, in addition to a wealth of distinctive microbial life.
Let’s simply hope they don’t discover plastic trash in there.
with info from IFLScience
Have you ever seen our new movies on Youtube? Subscribe to our channel!