Mariana Trench may have just become second deepest
Scientists have discovered life in places that we’d never imagined existed under the sea, including the New Britain Pool and Challenger Deep. While these places lack light, they are home to hundreds of small creatures. These creatures have been named the New Britain Pool and Challenger Deep, and are described in scientific journals. Scientists now plan to explore these areas and find out more about life on earth. But the real question is how deep can we go?
New Britain Trench
A study of the depth of the Mariana Trench shows that there are three depressions that extend beyond the top of the trough. The westernmost depression is about 10,925 m deep. Researchers have examined the errors that come with soundings at depths above that mark. The findings from this research point to a new place that may be even deeper. And it’s in the Atlantic. Scientists believe that the Mariana Trench is the deepest place on Earth, but are still not entirely certain.
While this may sound a little far-fetched, it’s actually an important place for scientific research. The Mariana Trench is 3,000 kilometers from Shanghai, China, and has played a significant role in China’s marine research programs. The deep sea glider Haiyan has been making long journeys through the Mariana Trench in order to collect data. The ship has also picked up disturbances from three typhoons.
The Mariana Trench is the deepest place on Earth, yet its full biosphere structure is not fully understood. Scientists previously thought that this area’s pressure would be so high that calcium would be insoluble in solution. However, nature has proven scientists wrong time again. A new project, the DEEP-SEA CHALLENGE, hopes to answer these questions. While there are few creatures that live at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, it has been a major contribution to mankind’s knowledge of the deep sea.
Challenger Deep
The Mariana Trench is the world’s deepest sea, but scientists don’t know exactly how much deeper it really is. The area are protected areas under international law, and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument was established in 2009. Its protected zone status allows researchers to research the place, and permits have been secured from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Federated States of Micronesia. The Trench is surrounded by perpetual darkness and temperature is only a few degrees above freezing. The pressure of water at the bottom is eight tons per square inch, or 1,000 times the standard atmospheric pressure at sea.
As the depth increases, so does the pressure.
In the Challenger Deep, the first human descent took place in 2011.
The average depth of the ocean is approximately 3,688 meters (12,100 feet). But the deepest part of the ocean, known as Challenger Deep, is at least 10 kilometers deeper than this. This place is located on the southern end of the Marianas Trench, south of Guam. Its name is derived from the HMS Challenger, a British navy vessel that explored it in the 17th century.
Mariana Trench
A new record may be set in March when Richard Garriott, a British-American adventurer, dived into the deepest part of the ocean. As a video game designer, Garriott has accomplished many firsts, including being the first person to reach both poles and orbit Earth aboard the International Space Station. The latest discovery was one that could change the way we think about the oceans.
The Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Earth known to exist as a hadal zone.
However, the full structure of this marine realm has remained elusive, making it an area of unknown biological diversity. Scientists are currently trying to figure out the conditions that make it impossible for life to thrive in this environment. The pressure in the Mariana Trench is so high that the presence of calcium cannot be detected unless it is in solution, which is why vertebrates would not be able to survive in deep water.
The Mariana Trench is located in the western Pacific Ocean and spans 2,500 miles. Its depth fluctuates along its 1580-mile length. So far, the deepest point was discovered by researchers on the British Survey ship Challenger II in 1951. For ten years, it was known as Challenger Deep. In 2017, two scientists named Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh descended into the trench in a submersible. The pair spent five hours at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, in cramped quarters.
Despite the fact that the Trench is the deepest place on earth, it is also one of the most dangerous places on the planet. There is no light, no oxygen, and extreme pressure that increases as one descends further. A human body would not be able to survive this type of environment, and bones would collapse under the intense pressure. The resulting conditions would be lethal. While many theorize that this could be the home of many giant sea creatures.
Mainly the prehistoric Megalodon shark.
New Britain Pool
The Mariana Trench has a deep section named after the HMS Challenger, which was the first ship to sound its depths. The water depth there is 34 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Until now, scientists have not been able to determine what is living in the depths of the Mariana Trench. Fortunately, scientists have made progress in the field of oceanography and have discovered that there are a few places on Earth where they can observe life in their natural habitats.
Lifeforms found there
Recent research into the Mariana Trench revealed a diverse and unique array of lifeforms. In addition to microbes, scientists also found the presence of microbes that blur the boundaries between the macroscopic and microscopic realms. The microbial community was particularly interesting, because it consisted of dark, shag carpet-like mats. These mats have no cell partitions, which means they cannot be classified as algae.
The lifeforms found in the Mariana Trench include bacteria, sea cucumbers, and octopuses. The deep-sea microbial mats are among the most unusual and unique types of life. These creatures live in large numbers on the sea floor, where they feed on mud. In the same way, snail-fish were found feeding on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in 2008, at an estimated depth of 8,000 feet. Scientists are also studying the deepest jellyfish in the world with the help of National Geographic Drop-cams.
Marine biologists initially rejected the idea of fish living in the Mariana Trench, saying that it is impossible for any animal to survive under such pressure.
However, two men stood by their statement and confirmed that the Mariana Trench does indeed harbor life. Although there are few known lifeforms, scientists have managed to identify more than 200 species of small animals. These animals have a high reproductive rate, indicating that they are well-adapted to life in such harsh conditions.
Scientists can now send missions down to the Mariana Trench and explore the depths of the deep ocean. In 1960, the US navy and oceanographer Jacques Piccard sent a submersible to the deep ocean. The submersible found lifeforms that humans couldn’t have imagined living in such extreme environments.
A study by an international team of scientists is underway to find out what other kinds of life can exist in the Mariana Trench.
Provided by Antonio Westley
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Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
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