Open AccessObituary: Sandy Island (1876–2012)
Author(s) -
Seton Maria,
Williams Simon,
Zahirovic Sabin,
Micklethwaite Steven
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2013eo150001
Subject(s) - geology , oceanography , surveyor , coral reef , reef , seafloor spreading , hydrography , tectonics , geography , paleontology , geodesy
In October 2012, scientists investigating the tectonic evolution of the eastern Coral Sea aboard the R/V Southern Surveyor uncovered a quirky discrepancy in maps of seafloor topography during their 25‐day voyage. While on a transit leg between dredge sites, the ship passed near a purported island between the Chesterfield Islands and Nereus Reef that appeared in numerous scientific data sets and in Google Earth™ with the label “Sandy Island.” However, this 25‐kilometer‐long and 5‐kilometer‐wide feature was absent from the hydrographic charts used by the master onboard the ship for navigation.