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Newly Discovered Volcanic 'Lost World' Is a Haven For Marine Life (gizmodo.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Australian scientists have discovered a previously unknown chain of volcanic seamounts near Tasmania. The area appears to be brimming with marine life, including a surprising number of whales who may be using the undersea volcanoes as a navigational tool. The volcanic chain was discovered by scientists from the Australian National University and CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, while on a 25-day mission aboard the research vessel Investigator to conduct detailed seafloor maps of the region. The undersea volcanoes are about 250 miles (400 kilometers) east of Tasmania, and they're quite deep.
The tallest of the seamounts extends 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) from the seafloor, so they're not tiny. It's hard to believe that something so large has gone undetected for so long, but our oceans are notoriously understudied. A mere 20 percent of Earth's oceans has been explored, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [T]he seamounts appeared to serve as a kind of mid-ocean oasis for a host of marine organisms. In addition to finding copious amounts of plankton in the area, the researchers observed various seabirds and a surprising number of whales. The volcanic seamounts, the researchers say, are likely important stopping points for migratory animals, particularly whales, who rely on seafloor structures for navigation. The volcanoes are likely serving as important signposts as the whales travel from their winter breeding areas to summer feeding grounds, the researchers say.
The tallest of the seamounts extends 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) from the seafloor, so they're not tiny. It's hard to believe that something so large has gone undetected for so long, but our oceans are notoriously understudied. A mere 20 percent of Earth's oceans has been explored, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [T]he seamounts appeared to serve as a kind of mid-ocean oasis for a host of marine organisms. In addition to finding copious amounts of plankton in the area, the researchers observed various seabirds and a surprising number of whales. The volcanic seamounts, the researchers say, are likely important stopping points for migratory animals, particularly whales, who rely on seafloor structures for navigation. The volcanoes are likely serving as important signposts as the whales travel from their winter breeding areas to summer feeding grounds, the researchers say.
The military will have already mapped this out. They need it mapped for sub navigation and underwater warfare. Thing is, these maps are considered secret so there is no sharing with the scientific community.
Ooh. A pristine ecosystem with untold variety and ecological value. Let's do what humans do best - wreck it then deny.
Hopefully the Australian Navy protects this whale sanctuary from Japanese Whalers
Those Japanese whaling vessels might run into something they don't expect.
If you're a 35-ton Megalodon trying to stave off final extinction a little longer, where are you going to hang out? Any damned place you please, right? And why not hang out in an extremely deep, giant underwater bubble of warm-water paradise, filled with food and far from humans? Any smart Megalodon would be there, right?
That's why it should be christened the "Megalodonian Seamount"!
Tune in this time next week for the exciting conclusion titled "That Really Bites!" or "Honey, Did You Chum The Fish? Honey? Honey?"
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.