The crew of the Exploration Vessel Nautilusdiscovered a strange formation on the floor while studying an area called Liliʻuokalani Ridge in the Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean.
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The formation resembles a cobblestone road. Impressed researcherssaw live diving footage of the formation and described it as a "yellow brick road" and "road to Atlantis" and called it strange, awesome and crazy in a video released last week.
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Nautilus spent most of April studying the geology and biological systems of seamounts, underwater mountains of volcanic origin. At the top of Nootka Seamount, the team spotted a “dried lakebed” formation, now identified as a fractured flow of glassy rock, a volcanic rock “formed in high-energy eruptions where lots of rock fragments settle to the seafloor,” the team said. The brick-like patterns likely come from heating and cooling cycles associated with those eruptions.
The vessel is funded by the non-profit organization Ocean Exploration Trust, which is live-streaming the ship's adventures, giving viewers a first-hand look at what its remotely operated submersible vehicles in the ocean depths.
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Since the beginning of the year, the Nautilus has captured all sorts of beautiful and unusual marine life, including graceful octopuses and a strange gelatinous creature. The Wizard of Oz-like formation highlights how these explorations can shed light on processes usually hidden beneath the waves. By following the yellow brick road, we can better understand the geology of the seabed.
