Bermuda Triangle

In the permanently dark waters beneath the Bermuda Triangle, scientists have uncovered a remarkably diverse range of extraordinary sea creatures. Many of the new species could shed light on the state of the world's oceans.Retrieving tiny sea animals - zooplankton - at depths of up to three miles, and even reading their genetic codes on a rolling sea, scientists carrying out a census of marine life have revealed new details about the role of these fragile creatures in the climate and food chain, from fish to whales.Among the thousands captured, 500 species have been catalogued and 220 of them have had their DNA sequences analysed on board theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Ronald H Brown to reveal up to 20 new species."We are charting the plankton in the sea like astronomers chart the stars in the sky," said the cruise's scientific leader, Dr Peter Wiebe, the senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, America."With the zooplankton chart, we can assess what changes - man-made and natural - are taking place in the largest habitat on Earth."The 20-day cruise, which ended on April 30, is part of an ambitious global inventory of all species of zooplankton, which is expected to double from the current number of 7,000 by 2010.The Census of Marine Life initiative will shed light on some important global ecosystem processes, including theimpact that ocean acidification may have on sea life.The oceans soak up a lot of carbon from the atmosphere as zooplankton migrate up and down the water column.By one rough estimate, 10,000lb of phytoplankton is needed to feed 1,000lb of small zooplankton, which in turn support 100lb of larger zooplankton, which support 10lb of small fish species (such as herring or anchovies), which support 1lb of a larger fish species.

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The Bermuda Triangle is located in the South-Alantic ocean. Although many ships and aircrafts sink in the triangle, there are also many that sink outside of the Bermuda Triangle. There is no real triangle if you look at a map of all the wrecks in the Atlantic. The real goemetric shape that shoud be used is an oval or oblong circle. The triangle may just be a figment of our imagination, or maybe it's not....

Ocean Floor: North-American Continental Shelf explains the wonderful blue water of the Caribbean. In many places throughout the Caribbean Islands when flying over the shelf it is possible to see large objects submerged several feet under the water. It's a splendid sight and it would make it seem that finding a lost plane submerged in these parts quite easy, especially in this day of Black Boxes.

The Black boxes don't work very well when they are submerged. Also, when the sandy bottom of the ocean floor is disturbed it can often cause the sand to lift up into a cloud and resettle on top of whatever disturbed it. To make matters worse, if a boat has capsized it may go completely unnoticed by all but the most sophisticated sonar equipment.

But these are only minor perils when it comes to searching for sunken craft in the Triangle. The real peril is that while many people have snorkeled in the wonderful shallow areas of the Caribbean, few have gone just a few miles away from these shallow areas where the continental shelf gives way to the ocean floor! Suddenly, within a matter of miles, what was once water only a couple hundred feet deep begins an ocean thousands of feet deep. About 100 miles north of Puerto Rico is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean: the Puerto Rico Trench, estimated at 30,100 ft (9200 meters) deep. The Florida Straits, between Miami and the Bahamas at around 5,000 or so feet deep. This is the shallow water where so many planes and boats have disappeared with out a trace. Contrary to the Bermuda triangle legend, the water of the islands is quite deep and turbulent....

The last words were innocuous: "Roger. Miami overseas, 6567." It was probably Louie Giuntoli's voice. The 41-year-old pilot of the C-119 Flying Boxcar sounded calm on the radio as he acknowledged switching to a clearer frequency of 6567 kilocycles.He didn't sound like a man in distress. He didn't sound like a man about to disappear. The crew from Milwaukee's 440th Airlift Wing was flying over the Atlantic Ocean south of Florida on the heavily traveled Yankee Route. Though maps don't identify the area as such, it's known as the Bermuda Triangle. Another half-hour and the 10 men on board should have arrived at their destination,Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas.It was a clear night with good flying weather.

When they didn't land, radio traffic controllers started calling Plane No. 680. The crew didn't answer. Nothing more was heard from Plane No. 680. Nothing was found. Not the men. Not their aircraft. Only a few scraps of debris that could have been tossed out of the cargo plane. It's as if they were just swallowed up by the turquoise waters. That was 40 years ago. It's been four decades of silence. And pain. For the families and friends and colleagues of the missing 440th crew, their questions will never be answered. And even though the Air Force Reserve wing in Milwaukee will soon close, Plane No. 680 hasn't been forgotten. All that is left now is a plaque dedicated to the crew that hangs at the440th headquarters and a C-119 plane painted exactly like the missing aircraft that's on display near one of the facility's gates. The loss left a hole in the 440th - an entire flight crew plus experienced maintenance specialists. Kids grew up without their dads, wives continued their lives without their mates, co-workers wondered about the fate of their friends and colleagues.

Two brothers, different fates It was a routine mission: drop off an engine and a maintenance crew on Grand Turk Island, pick up bundles of concertina wire in Puerto Rico and drop them off in the Dominican Republic. Then return home to Milwaukee. Dick Nugent was a loadmaster for the 440th, and so was his brother Thomas. Dick Nugent had just finished a week of air drops at Fort Benning, Ga., andsince ......

It was probably Louie Giuntoli's voice. The 41-year-old pilot of the C-119 Flying Boxcar sounded calm on the radio as he acknowledged switching to a clearer frequency of 6567 kilocycles.He didn't sound like a man in distress.He didn't sound like a man about to disappear.The crew from Milwaukee's 440th Airlift Wing was flying over the Atlantic Ocean south of Florida on the heavily traveled Yankee Route. Though maps don't identify the area as such, it's known as the Bermuda Triangle. Another half-hour and the 10 men on board should have arrived at their destination, Grand TurkIsland in the Bahamas.It was a clear night with good flying weather.

When they didn't land, radio traffic controllers started calling Plane No. 680. The crew didn't answer.Nothing more was heard from Plane No. 680. Nothing was found. Not the men. Not their aircraft. Only a few scraps of debris that could have been tossed out of the cargo plane.It's as if they were just swallowed up by the turquoise waters.That was 40 years ago. It's been four decades of silence. And pain. For the families and friends and colleagues of the missing 440th crew, their questions will never be answered. And even though the Air Force Reserve wing in Milwaukee will soon close, Plane No. 680 hasn't been forgotten.Allthat is left now is a plaque dedicated to the crew that hangs at the 440th headquarters and a C-119 plane painted exactly like the missing aircraft that's on display near one of the facility's gates.The loss left a hole in the 440th - an entire flight crew plus experienced maintenance specialists. Kids grew up without their dads, wives continued their lives without their mates, co-workers wondered about the fate of their friends and colleagues.

View: Full Article | Source: JS Online