WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OCEANS?
PUMICE LIFE RAFTS
By Jake Tapping
Ouroceanstv.com Staff Writer
Globally, coral reefs are on the brink of environmental collapse, due to pollution, overfishing and climate change. But, a rare natural phenomenon, debuted in Our Oceans, may provide a temporary life raft for these struggling key habitats...
Oceanic phenomena, called pumice rafts, originate from underwater volcanic eruptions of lava into the great ocean current. Lava- which has a very high content of gas and water- becomes ‘frothy’, rapidly cools and then hardens to form the light porous rock material that we know as pumice.
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The pumice then begins its journey surfing the great ocean current. As this happens on such a large sale, the pumice stones simultaneously rise causing a raft of rock to cover the surface.
Thermohaline Ocean Currents
The recent collaboration between Netflix and Freeborne Media hosts the first time such a unique event has been filmed underwater.
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Cameraman Masahiko Sakata described his experience filming the raft settling on the great barrier reef as:
“Like swimming through a thick soup of rocks”
The majority of pumice rocks were the size of rice but they created an ocean crust 2-4 inches thick, blocking the sunlight.
These rafts are a rare spectacle that will surely have consequences for life under the surface.
Potential for Reef Rehabilitation
Research suggests that pumice rafts can recruit and transport a huge biomass, facilitating species dispersal. These rafts create unique mini-environments on their surfaces, which provide a safe place for various marine organisms to attach and grow.
With anything from egg cases, crustaceans and microbiota, pumice rafts offer a rapid and long distance dispersal for a wide variety of species.
Also, these rafts provide a vitamin boost to the reef as the rocks settle amongst the coral. By breaking down, these porous rocks release minerals which help corals grow and become more resilient.
Crucially, understanding how pumice rafts work can help us better protect delicate marine environments and manage the challenges posed by invasive species which may also attach to this rocky ocean highway.
Unfortunately, due to the rare nature of these raft formations they are by no means a miracle cure to the problems facing our coral reef. Globally, more action needs to be taken to protect our coral reefs. By supporting initiatives to protect these areas from overfishing, or making climate conscious decisions can go a long way to helping this precious and vital ecosystem.
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You can learn more about how you can help our oceans here.