The Fascinating Depths of Ocean Exploration

Jul 7, 2024

Exploring the Ocean - The Last Mystery on Earth

Introduction

  • Planet's Mystery: Despite the feeling that we know Earth, many areas remain unexplored, especially under the oceans.
  • Proportion of Earth Covered by Water: More than 70% of Earth's surface is composed of oceans, most of which are unexplored.
  • Unknown Marine Life: There are estimates of more than 2 million marine species, with 90% still undescribed.

Fear and Fascination with the Ocean

  • Thalassophobia: Fear of large bodies of water, especially the deep ocean.
  • Ocean Depths: True abysses, often more frightening than we can imagine.

Initial Exploration

  • Comparison with Learning New Skills: Exploring the ocean is compared to learning a new skill—challenging but rewarding.

Ocean Depth

  • First Meters: Up to 2 meters you can dive without equipment, but beyond that, oxygen cylinders are needed.
  • Limit of Recreational Diving: A maximum of 40 meters for safety reasons.
  • World Diving Record: Just over 300 meters.
  • Military Submarines: Operate at depths around 400 meters.
  • Exploration Challenges: Pressure, darkness, and cold.

Ocean Zones

  • Bathypelagic Zone (1,000 - 4,000 meters): Total darkness and some horrifying life forms like the blobfish and colossal squid.
  • Abyssal Zone (4,000 - 6,000 meters): Home to bizarre creatures like the melanocetus johnsonii.
  • Hadal Zone (6,000 - 11,000 meters): Includes the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth (11,000 meters).

History of Submarine Exploration

  • Early Studies: Archimedes and the buoyant force.
  • First Submarines: Leonardo da Vinci and Cornelius Drebbel in the 17th century.
  • Modern Development: Compressed air, diesel, and nuclear engines enabled new military strategies and exploration.
  • Conquest of the Mariana Trench: Trieste, commanded by Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in 1960.
  • James Cameron: Director of Titanic, descended to the Mariana Trench in 2012.
  • Limiting Factor: Modern submarine that performed approximately 20 trips to the seafloor.

Challenges of Ocean Mapping

  • Map Resolution: Maps of Mars have a resolution of 5 m/pixel, while maps of the oceans have 10,000 m/pixel.
  • Mapping Methods: Use of sonars and variations on the water's surface.
  • Seabed 2030 Initiative: Project to map the entire seafloor by 2030 with high precision (3 m/pixel in busy zones).

Benefits of Ocean Exploration

  • Benefits: Can facilitate the search for wrecks, internet cable installation, understanding ocean currents, tsunami predictions, etc.
  • Scientific Progress: Fundamental for the advancement of science and human exploration. Can lead to discoveries that save lives.

Conclusion

  • Last Frontier on Earth: The seafloor is the last unexplored frontier on Earth, full of mysteries and potential for new discoveries.