Page 9 - aruba-today-20230724

A9
LOCAL Monday 24 July 2023

Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

Through underwater and pointed out, these fossilized
land surveillance, and 3D reefs on the windward side
models of the reefs, they are truly an incredible and
were able to narrow down rare remnant of geologi-
when these formations cal history, as they provide
started to take place. They a clear view of how these
were also able to track the reefs have formed.
fluctuation of sea levels
during the past hundred or This research is also im-
even thousands of years, portant for the future of
and the effects that this coral reefs on the island.
fluctuation has had on the By studying rising sea lev-
coral reefs of the windward els and climate impact on
side of Aruba. these coral reefs, we are
able to take concrete ac-
These findings can certainly tion in protecting and pre-
put things into perspective. serve our coral reefs. So, if
The ground on which we you are ever visiting one of
have walked many times the bocas or driving along
on the northern part of the the northern part of the is-
island hold such rich history, land, please be conscious
history that dates back to a to help protect our natu-
time that most of us can- ral historical remnant. Oh,
not even imagine. As the and wear (coral-friendly)
scientists themselves have sunscreen!q
(Oranjestad)—If you’ve cial period. fossilized coral reefs at the
been to the northern coast University of Aruba. Their
of Aruba already, you’ve On May 30 2023, geosci- focus for their research in-
probably noticed how the entists, Dr. Patrick Boyden cluded studying the health
ground differs entirely from from the Marum research and formation patterns of
the sandy beaches on the faculty at the University of these coral reefs, and to
southern part of the island. Bremen, Prof. dr. Alessio investigate how these reefs
These hard surfaces, with Rovere from the Ca' Fosc- have responded and can
sharp bumps and holes ari University of Venice and respond to fluctuating sea
are actually fossilized coral Prof. dr. Gianfranco Scic- levels or extreme weather,
reefs, of which its growth chitano, from the University like hurricanes and tsuna-
and changes can be of Bari Aldo Moro, present- mis.
traced back to the last gla- ed their research on these