Researchers have charted the expansive coral reef located deep in the ocean, which spans hundreds of miles along the eastern coast of the United States.

Although scientists have been aware of the existence of certain coral in the Atlantic since the 1960s, the actual size of the reef was unknown until recent advancements in underwater mapping allowed for the creation of 3D representations of the sea bed.

According to Derek Sowers, an oceanographer from the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust, the biggest deep coral reef known to date has been hidden right under our noses, just waiting to be found.

Sowers and other experts, including several from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, recently released maps of the coral reef in the publication Geomatics.

The reef spans 310 miles (499 kilometers) from Florida to South Carolina and measures up to 68 miles (109 kilometers) in width at certain points. Its total expanse is approximately three times that of Yellowstone National Park.

Stuart Sandin, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, described it as a revelation due to its immense size. He was not part of the research team.

The coral reef was discovered at depths between 655 feet to 3,280 feet (200 meters to 1,000 meters), where there is no sunlight. In contrast to tropical coral reefs, which rely on photosynthesis for growth, this coral must extract food from the water for energy.

According to researchers, deep coral reefs serve as a home for a diverse range of marine life including sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp, and various types of fish.

Scientists and snorkelers are more familiar with tropical reefs due to their higher accessibility. The Great Barrier Reef, which spans 1,430 miles (2,301 kilometers), is the largest tropical coral reef system in the world.

Sowers stated that there is a potential for the discovery of larger deep-sea reefs in the future, as currently, only 75% of the world’s ocean floor has been accurately mapped. In addition, only 50% of U.S. offshore waters have been mapped. Sonar devices carried on ships are used to create high-resolution maps of the ocean floor.

The ocean’s deep reefs have a larger coverage than tropical reefs. These two types of environments are vulnerable to comparable threats, such as climate change and disruption from oil and gas extraction. According to Erik Cordes, a co-author of the recent research, who is also a marine biologist at Temple University.

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Source: wral.com