The Green Banana Hole is a blue hole 80 km (50 mi) off the United States western seaboard southwest of Sarasota, Florida. The rim is approximately 47 m (154 ft) below the surface and the hole extends downward approximately 130 m (427 ft). Blue holes in this area are thought to have formed as sinkholes on land 8,000 to 12,000 years ago. Due to lower sea levels at this time, the Florida coastline extended approximately 161 km (100 mi) farther into the ocean. The vertical shape of the hole is roughly like an hourglass, making it especially difficult to explore. It is one of the deepest known blue holes.[1][2]
| Green Banana Hole | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Sarasota, Florida |
| Coordinates | 26°48′04″N 83°04′55″W / 26.801192°N 83.081980°W |
| Depth | 130 m (427 ft) |
| Elevation | -47 m (154 ft) |
| Features | One of the deepest blue holes known |
| Cave survey | 2020-21 |
Etymology
editThe name Green Banana was reported to come from the captain of a commercial fishing boat who, while fishing in the area of the hole, saw a green banana skin floating in the water.[1]
Exploration
editIn August 2020 the hole was explored by diver Marty Watson and a team of scientists from Florida Atlantic University.[3] In May 2021 scientists from NOAA, Mote Marine Laboratory, and other regional scientific organizations plan to conduct a research expedition to the site where divers and crew using specially designed instruments will explore the hole. Scientists and engineers have built an instrument package called a benthic lander. The lander is a triangular-shaped prism that will be lowered into the hole and will have the expedition's instruments mounted inside. The researchers plan to gather data about the structure of the hole as well as information about seawater chemistry and marine life inside the hole. The team also hopes to gather information about possible connection(s) between the many blue holes that exist off the coast of Florida and the Floridan aquifer system. This expedition is part of a three-year study and builds on the information and experience gathered from an earlier expedition to Amberjack Hole.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Murphy, Heather (July 26, 2020). "Why Everyone's Talking About the 'Green Banana' Off Florida's Coast". New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ "Scientists Embark on Journey to the "Deep" to Explore Blue Holes". Office of Ocean Research and Exploration. Retrieved July 23, 2020.; Rice, Doyle (July 23, 2020). "Mysterious 'blue hole' near Florida wows scientists". USA Today. Retrieved July 27, 2020.; Davidson, Jordan (July 24, 2020). "Scientists to Explore Mysterious Blue Hole off Florida". EcoWatch. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ Perkins, Chris (September 29, 2020). "There's a giant 'Green Banana' off Florida's coast, and researchers have finally gotten to the bottom of it". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Allen, Karma (July 22, 2020). "Scientists flock to mysterious 'blue hole' off Florida's Gulf Coast". ABC News. Retrieved July 27, 2020.; Delbert, Caroline (July 22, 2020). "Why Divers Are Venturing Deep Inside a Baffling Blue Hole". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
External links
edit- Changing Seas: Episode 1201: Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the SeaEpisode. PBS
- Exploration of the West Florida Shelf Blue Holes. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006.