Formation of Blue Hole
When the water level was as much as 100–120 meters (330–390 feet) lower than it is now, blue holes were produced during previous ice ages. The same rain and chemical weathering that affected all limestone-rich terrain at the time also affected these formations; this stopped when they were submerged at the end of the ice period. Both fresh and saltwater can be found in most blue holes. The point in these blue holes where freshwater and saltwater mix is called the halocline, and it’s here that a corrosive reaction occurs, eroding the rock. This may eventually result in horizontal “arms” or side tunnels emerging from the vertical cave.
Karst processes are the mechanism via which blue holes originate. Karst processes require a particular kind of terrain. Because soluble rocks like marble, gypsum, and limestone dissolve over time, underground passageways and cave systems are formed. Blue holes can emerge when combined with doline creation. Originally, doline formations were closed depressions created by the collapse of subsidence into an underground hole or the solution of surface rock.
Blue Hole
Blue Hole: A blue hole is an underwater, large marine sinkhole or cavern. They can cover areas bigger than cities and are hundreds of meters long. Carbonate bedrock, such as coral reefs or limestone, makes up blue holes. They may contain tidally-influenced fresh, marine, or mixed water. By releasing nutrients, some of the holes help the biodiversity in their natural surroundings. Off the coast of Mexico, a blue hole measuring 900 feet deep was found in 2021. In February 2023, a study on the blue hole was first published in the Frontiers in Marine Science publication.
In this article, we will read about Blue Hole, interesting facts about them, the formation of blue hole, their location, biodiversity, and the great blue hole of Belize.
Table of Content
- What is Blue Hole?
- Facts about Blue Hole
- Formation of Blue Hole
- Blue Hole Location
- Blue Hole Biodiversity
- Sedimentation in Blue Holes
- Fossil Preservation in Blue Holes
- Great Blue Hole – Belize