Scientists in Cape York, Australia have discovered a detached coral reef that came from the now dying Great Barrier Reef. This finding is the result of a collaborative research team made up of Australian scientists and the Schmidt Oceanic Institutes. The first of the genre discovered in over 120 years in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef, scientists said.
The coral reef tops 500 meters, which is more than the height of the Empire State Building, the Sydney Tower, and the Petronas Twin Towers. It stands on a 1.5km-wide “blade-like” base and sits at 40 m below the sea surface. Besides being healthy, unlike the Great Barrier Reef, it sheltered new marine species never seen before, which is why this discovery is so significant.
The Great Barrier Reef has long been the largest coral reef of the world, with dozens of marine species on Australia's eastern coast. Stretching over 2,300km, the reef has lost nearly half of its colorful life in what is known as “Reef Bleaching”. A study funded by the Australian State of the Environment cited climate change as the main reason for coral reef death.
The newly discovered reef is the eighth detached reef mapped since the late 1800s and is the nesting area of an endangered species. Scientists first discovered the reef on October 20, when the team was conducting a 3D underwater mapping of the seafloor around the Great Barrier Reef. However, the team made a deep dive into the seabed on October 25 using a remotely operated underwater robot to explore the newly discovered reef.
The scientists are on a year exploration of Australia seafloor aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute research ship. The institute reports that he has discovered up to 30 new species since the beginning of the expedition.
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Release, Press. “AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS DISCOVER 500 METER TALL CORAL REEF IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF-FIRST TO BE DISCOVERED IN OVER 120 YEARS.” Schmidt Ocean Institute, 26 Oct. 2020, schmidtocean.org/australian-scientists-discover-500-meter-tall-coral-reef-in-the-great-barrier-reef-first-to-be-discovered-in-over-120-years/.
