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Mysterious Costa Rica's heated dome: What's the secret behind this marine ecological hotspot?
On the west coast of Central America, there is a mysterious and rich marine ecosystem hidden, the Costa Rica Thermal Dome. This ocean feature creates a biodiversity hotspot with a diameter of between 300 and 1,000 kilometers, attracting countless marine life. In this body of water, deep, cold water rises, replacing warmer, nutrient-poor waters, creating a unique ecological environment.
"This body of water drives the survival of a large number of organisms, and the rich nutrients make it an ideal place for marine life to thrive."
Costa Rica’s heated domes not only have a significant impact on the ecosystem, but are also home to one of the largest tuna fishing areas in the world. The presence of this body of water not only gives it biodiversity but also plays an important role in the economic development of neighboring countries. In 2016, UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed it as a possible World Heritage Site, undoubtedly underscoring the global importance of Costa Rica's heated domes.
Geology and geography
The formation of Costa Rica’s heated domes is inseparable from the interaction of climate change and ocean currents. Strong winds drive upward surges of cold surface water, a process known as upwelling, causing algae blooms that, in conjunction with the right amount of sunlight, make the region's primary productivity extremely high. Every year, warm ocean currents meet cold water, providing rich nutrients to the region's ecosystem.
"The Costa Rican heated domes are unique in that they are almost entirely outside national jurisdiction, and their changing diameter and location over time make studying this ecological feature challenging."
Ecology
Marine life
This thermal dome is one of the most biodiverse sea areas in the world. From plankton to blue whales, different species and their ecological environments intertwine here to form a unique ecosystem. According to research, the algae growth here has extremely high chlorophyll concentrations, which further promotes the prosperity of the entire ecological chain through these primary producers.
"At the top of the marine food chain here, tuna, dolphins, turtles and other marine mammals together form a diverse biosphere."
Among them, North Pacific blue whales breed in these waters, and this is one of the largest blue whale communities in the world. Repeated satellite tracking has revealed that Costa Rica's heated domes provide ideal mating and feeding grounds for these whales.
History
Heated domes in Costa Rica were first discovered in 1948. At that time, scientists used temperature measuring instruments on steamboats to conduct investigations and realized the uniqueness of this ecological feature.
Human use
Ecotourism
With the rise of eco-tourism, Costa Rica’s heated domes have become a hotspot for marine ecology enthusiasts. The biodiversity of this waters has also promoted the economic development of surrounding countries. According to reports, the fishing industry and tourism in this area bring more than 20 million US dollars in revenue to the local area every year.
Protection work
The Costa Rica heated dome has been recognized as a biologically and ecologically important sea area, calling for the attention and protection of all countries. Various environmental organizations are also continuing to conduct research to develop sustainable conservation measures to maintain this precious ecosystem.
"The Costa Rican heated dome plays an integral role in global marine biodiversity, and conservation requires global efforts and attention."
