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.