Scientists discover 'secret' coral garden 7,500 feet under the Gulf of Mexico
New Delhi : During a May 2018 NOAA expedition, scientists studying different habitats in the Gulf of Mexico came across a secret community of corals that is likely to be centuries old. They discovered a garden 7,500 feet under the Gulf of Mexico
While conducting an expedition in unexplored waters, scientists discovered a lively 'secret' garden of corals. It was found 7,500 feet under the Gulf of Mexico. Surprisingly, no human has ever discovered this coral garden before.
"This is a truly magnificent garden of coral fans, I don't think we've seen these densities yet in the Gulf of Mexico," said one of the scientists on the expedition.
Scientists have used remote-operated submersible vehicle (ROV), to locate the garden. With the help of high-end photographic instruments, they were able to capture incredible images of the corals. They calculated that the corals are at least hundreds of years old.
The presence of corals suggests the availability of right geological conditions for reasonably stable life.
They mentioned that the corals have to position themselves to face the current so that that they can feed. According to the video and images, the corals were facing the current and were removing other organisms. There also has to be enough food in the area for the corals to live.
About NOAA's mission in the Gulf of Mexico
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had launched a 3-month exploration of the Gulf of Mexico in December 2017. The objective was to study the core parts of the water and to map the seafloor.
Between April and May 2018, scientists went for a special 23-day exploration of habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. They acquired data and captured videos of the different underwater areas. As part of the research, the scientists explored deep coral communities, bottom fish habitats, shipwrecks and other types of life in the water.
In addition to the secret corals, the scientists also discovered a waterfall under the sea that was officially listed as a brine pool. They found a deep-sea squid in a defensive pose, mounds of mud volcanoes, and lots of debris from ships.
