The deepest point of ocean exploration that has been recorded to date is the Mariana Trench, which is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is an estimated 10,924 metres below sea level, making it the deepest natural point in the ocean.
The deepest point of exploration was first discovered in 1950 by the British navy vessel, HMS Challenger II.
Since then, a number of explorations have been conducted in the Mariana Trench and its surroundings in order to gain insights into the mysterious region and its marine life. In 1960 the French-American expedition the ‘Trieste’ descended to the bottom of the Mariana trench, becoming the first recorded and successful mission that made it to the very bottom, although the actual depth was later found to be slightly less than the actual measured depth, due to uncalibrated equipment.
In 2012, a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted a journey to the Mariana Trench and to depths of 8,143 metres. They found a species of snailfish that had managed to adapt to the harsh pressure at such depths, and they also plotted the entirety of the Mariana Trench and its walls.
The most recent exploration of the Mariana Trench is the ‘Five Deeps Expedition,’ led by explorer Victor Vescovo in 2019. The team managed to descend to 10,928 meters and brought back video footage of the voyage.
The expedition was a collaborative effort, with experts from the National Geographic Society, University of Oxford and NASA aiding the team in their mission.
The Mariana Trench is still uncharted in many parts, but explorations like these are helping to unveil its secrets and shed insight on the mysterious and awe-inspiring depths of the ocean.
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How deep in the ocean have humans reached?
The deepest place ever reached by humans in the ocean is the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, which is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is the deepest known point in the Earth’s seabed hydrosphere, with a depth of 10,902 meters (35,802 feet).
It was first sounded during the Challenger expedition of 1872–76, which was led by the British Royal Navy. In 1960, two United States Navy divers, Lieutenant Donald Walsh and Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard, made a record dive to the Challenger Deep in the bathyscaphe Trieste.
This was part of the United States Navy’s project to map the ocean floor off Guam and explore the potential for continental drift and plate tectonics. The bathyscaphe descended about 10,916 meters (35,813 feet) to the bottom of the Challenger Deep, setting a world record for the deepest ocean dive in human history.
Since then, several manned submersibles have visited the Challenger Deep, including the Pisces V, a US Navy-funded deep-submergence vehicle, and the Shinkai 6500, a Japanese research submersible.
Have humans gone to the bottom of the ocean?
Yes, humans have gone to the bottom of the ocean. Two of the most well-known accomplishments include the first successful dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in 1960 by the US Navy’s bathyscaphe Trieste, and the first solo dive to the same depth in 2012 by film director (and self-proclaimed ocean advocate) James Cameron in the Deepsea Challenger.
Several other dives have been made to the Challenger Deep, with the current human dive record sitting at 10,908 meters. Outside of the Challenger Deep, humans have also made dives to a variety of other depths, including 6,100 meters down in the Japan Trench, 7,023 meters down in the Puerto Rico Trench, and 8,376 meters down in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench.
For many dives, the depths were explored using deep-sea submersibles equipped with powerful lights, cameras, and reinforcement materials to withstand the extreme pressures of the depths. However, many other explorations were made without the assistance of any mechanical vessels, instead relying solely on human scuba divers and their equipment.
Is there a hidden world in the ocean?
Yes, there is a hidden world in the ocean. The ocean is an expansive and mysterious environment, with so much still unknown and being explored. Scientists and oceanographers are constantly uncovering new species, landmarks, and ecosystems that are still relatively unknown to the general public.
In recent years, deep sea research has uncovered an entire world of fascinating creatures, habitats, and geological features. Many of these creatures live thousands of feet below the ocean surface, in water that is too deep and pressurized for humans to explore.
These creatures dominate this hidden environment, living off of chemosynthetic organisms, hydrothermal vents, and the deep sea floor. Many of them were first discovered as little more than shadows in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and only later were fully identified by scientists.
In fact, researchers estimate that as much as ninety-five percent of the ocean’s floor is still unmapped and unexplored. Unexplored environments, and myriad of fascinating facts.
What did NASA discover in the ocean?
NASA has made a number of stunning discoveries in Earth’s oceans over the years. In 2000, the team found evidence that hydrothermal vents located more than twice as deep as ever before had been discovered and were teeming with vibrant microbial life.
In 2010, the Explorer-class submersible Alvin made history when it descended to the deepest known point in the ocean — the Mariana Trench, located 36,000 feet below the surface. On the expedition, scientists found an array of unknown species, including a strange and unidentified jellyfish they nicknamed the “googly-eyed” jellyfish.
In 2014, a NASA vessel ventured around the Gulf of Mexico and discovered a strange nutrient cycling process that was helping to reduce ocean acidification. The same year, NASA also reported that Coral reefs were bleaching due to warming waters, which can lead to the alteration of marine habitats.
More recently, in 2020, NASA studied the effect of freshwater inputs at the confluence of the Rio del la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. The study concluded that the release of fresh water was affecting the distribution of salt in the ocean, resulting in an increase in coastal ocean productivity.
Overall, NASA has made many fascinating discoveries in the ocean over the years – from unknown species to nutrient cycling processes and the effects of freshwater inputs. Their ongoing missions continue to uncover more about the fascinating diversity of life and ecosystems in Earth’s oceans.
Why can’t we explore the ocean?
Exploring the ocean is a difficult and complex task because it is an unforgiving and treacherous environment. The conditions in the ocean make it hard to explore, even with the advances in technology.
The darkness of the deep ocean, the pressure of the water, and its vastness make it an inhospitable place to explore.
In addition, the ocean is still largely unknown, making it a risky undertaking. Unpredictable currents, extreme temperatures, surface clutter, jellyfish and sharks make exploration of the ocean a hazardous endeavor.
There are also numerous man-made objects in the ocean, including ships, oil rigs, and other debris, all of which could potentially impede exploration.
The cost associated with exploring the ocean is also a major factor. Specialized ships, deep-sea diving equipment, and underwater vehicles all carry hefty price tags, which can make exploration of the ocean cost-prohibitive for many.
Finally, navigating to and from the depths of the ocean can be difficult, given the lack of local landmarks. As a result, it can be nearly impossible to find your way back, posing a serious danger.
All these factors make exploring the ocean a daunting challenge, but there is still much to learn from the depths of our planet’s largest water body.
Is there any other planet with water?
At present, the only planet known with certainty to have liquid water on its surface is Earth. However, there is evidence that suggests that liquid water may exist on other planets and moons in the Solar System, such as Mars and Europa.
Data from the Cassini and Galileo spacecrafts have indicated that liquid water most likely exists on Mars beneath its surface. It is believed that melted ice may form an underground ocean beneath the south polar ice cap.
This theory was further supported when experts discovered sedimentary evidence of ancient river beds on the Martian surface.
As for Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, analysis of data acquired by the Galileo spacecraft shows evidence that the moon’s icy outer crust hides a global ocean beneath. This ocean is thought to contain more water than that present on or in all of Earth’s oceans.
There is also evidence that liquid water may exist on the moons of distant planets such as Ganymede and Callisto, both moons of Jupiter, and Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons.
In addition, there are also several exoplanets — planets that orbit stars different from the Sun — outside of our Solar System that could harbor liquid water. Astronomers have recently discovered evidence of an exoplanet called K2-18b, which is thought to have liquid on its surface because it lies in the habitable zone of its star, meaning it is not too far from or too close to it.
Finally, astronomers have also identified several super-Earth exoplanets, planets more massive than the Earth but with a similar density, with the potential to host liquid water on their surfaces. This is because many super-Earths are found in their star’s habitable zone and some of them have similar temperatures to Earth.
How much of the bottom of the ocean have we discovered?
We have now explored less than five percent of the world’s oceans, so the majority of the ocean floor remains unexplored and largely unknown. In total, the collective research of mankind has mapped and photographed around 14 percent of the seafloor, with more advanced mapping systems like sidescan sonar and multi-beam echo sounders mapping around an additional 9–11 percent.
This leaves roughly 75–76 percent of the total seafloor unexplored and uncharted. The difficulty of exploring the abyssal plains and trenches of the deep ocean has meant that this percentage is decreasing at an incredibly slow rate.
Furthermore, new technologies and methods of exploration such as remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and interferometric synthetic aperture sonar have revolutionised underwater exploration, but mapping is still mainly done close to shore, with very little of the deep ocean being explored.
This means most of the ocean remains largely unexplored, leaving the deep sea floor an area of great mystery.
On the whole, despite the development of modern technology for deep sea exploration, only a very small portion of the ocean floor has been discovered, so the majority of the ocean remains a mystery to mankind.
Is the Mariana Trench fully explored?
No, the Mariana Trench is not fully explored. The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world’s oceans, located approximately 200 miles southwest of the U. S. territory of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean.
It’s estimated to be around 36,200 feet deep, making it the deepest part of the ocean – nearly 7. 5 miles! Due to its extreme depths, the Mariana Trench is one of the least explored areas of the sea, making a full exploration and understanding of its full depths impossible.
Thus far, only two manned missions have reached its depths, the first being the 1960 Trieste journey, which stayed in the trench for 20 minutes, and the second being movie director and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron’s 2012 dive aboard the Deepsea Challenger.
Both of these missions resulted in scientific discoveries, however, only a handful of expeditions have visited the Mariana Trench. With so little explored, the full depths of the Mariana Trench remain largely an unknown mystery, leaving many new discoveries waiting to be uncovered in its murky waters.
How far have we explored the Mariana Trench?
The Mariana Trench is located in the western Pacific Ocean and is the deepest part of the world’s ocean at over 11,000 meters deep. It is located in a region known as the “Ring of Fire” due to its high levels of seismic activity.
The region is also home to a variety of ecosystems, ranging from microbial mats and undersea volcanoes to deep sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps.
Exploration of the Mariana Trench has been occurring for nearly two centuries and has produced significant scientific advancement. In the 1800s, British explorer Richard Pickersgill became the first person to take measurements of the depths of the trench.
In the 1950s, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh descended to the bottom of the trench in the submarine Trieste, with Piccard becoming the first person to ever reach the Mariana Trench’s maximum depth.
Technology has allowed us to explore the Mariana Trench in even more detail. In 2009, a team of scientists from Scripps Institute of Oceanography and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration descended to the bottom of the trench using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) called “Jason”, which took the first pictures taken of the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
In 2011, the Hadal-Lander, a deep-diving robotic submersible, was used to retrieve data in the depth of the Mariana Trench.
In total, we have explored the Mariana Trench to depths approaching 11,000 meters and have sent a variety of submersibles, robotic vehicles, and satellites to help us gain a better understanding of the trench and its unique environment.
While our exploration and knowledge of the Mariana Trench is still ever-expanding, we have come a long way in the past two centuries in terms of both our understanding and our ability to explore the depths of the Mariana Trench.
Is there a point deeper than the Mariana Trench?
Yes, there is a point deeper than the Mariana Trench. In fact, the Mariana Trench is only the deepest part of the ocean in the world. Other parts of the ocean are even deeper. The Mariana Trench is estimated to be about 36,000 feet (10,910 meters) deep.
But, the actual deepest point on Earth is in the Tonga Trench, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The Tonga Trench plunges down to more than 36,200 feet (11,034 meters). This makes it the deepest oceanic point on Earth and even deeper than the Mariana Trench.
It’s nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) below the surface. The Tonga Trench also serves as an important boundary between two tectonic plates and is known as a subduction zone. There are also other trenches around the world located in the areas of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
All of them are deeper than the Mariana Trench and make up the deepest parts of the ocean on our planet.
What was found in the Mariana Trench?
In 2019, a survey of the Mariana Trench was conducted by the Sea Rover autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI). The survey found that the Mariana Trench is home to a wide variety of underwater creatures.
Some new species were discovered, such as the amoeboid protists, “Limacina helicina”, according to the SOI’s website. Other species found in the Mariana Trench included shrimp, octopuses, scorpionfish, jellyfish, cutthroat eel, pencil fish, lantern fish, hagfish, and ghost sharks.
In addition to animal life, the survey found a variety of plant life, such as anemones, sea-pen tubeworms, sponges, and corals. The survey also discovered remote hydrothermal vents emitting sulfur particles and dissolved minerals- these vents produce bacteria, which in turn help provide food for underwater creatures.
The survey of the Mariana Trench also found evidence of plastic waste, including plastic bottles, utensils, and fishing gear. This indicates that human impact is reaching even the most extreme depths of the world’s oceans.
Although the Mariana Trench is one of the deepest places on Earth, it is being increasingly affected by the actions of humans.
Did they find a Megalodon in the Mariana Trench?
No, they did not find a Megalodon in the Mariana Trench. The Megalodon, or Carcharocles megalodon, is an extinct species of shark that is believed to have gone extinct around 2. 6 million years ago. Scientists have not yet discovered the remains of a Megalodon or any species of shark in the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest part of the ocean, located near the Mariana Islands and the Philippines.
However, in 2014, scientists estimated that there could be dozens of species of large fish present in the Mariana Trench, including deep-sea sharks of unknown identity. In 2018, specimens of a new species of shark were identified from the Mariana Trench, though it was not a member of the Megalodon species.
Deep sea exploration of the Mariana Trench is very difficult because of remote location and extreme depth and pressure, so it is unlikely that any such remains will be found in the foreseeable future.
What is the deepest sea creature ever found?
The deepest sea creature ever found is the Mariana Trench & Hadal Snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei). Residing at depth of nearly 26,000 ft (8,000 m) below the ocean’s surface in the Mariana Trench near the Mariana Islands, this small, pink, scaleless fish is adapted to live in the crushing pressure and total darkness of the deep.
It was first discovered by researchers from the NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation and the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium during an expedition onboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus in 2017.
Despite being such an extreme environment, the Mariana Trench is surprisingly full of life. In addition to the elusive Hadal Snailfish, researchers exploring the depths have discovered jellyfish, cusk eels, octopus and so much more.
This fascinating ecosystem is full of species that are still shrouded in mystery and scientists expect that further exploration of the deep sea will continue to yield new discoveries.
What does NASA see on my birthday?
On your birthday, NASA will be looking at a range of different areas in space. Depending on the time of year and specific day, they may be focusing on looking at the stars in the night sky, researching galaxies and other planetary systems, studying the Moon, planets, and solar system, or learning more about comets, asteroids, and other small celestial bodies.
They may also be looking through the telescope at distant stars, examining Earth’s atmosphere, or even closely examining our own planet. Furthermore, NASA astronomers might be studying the sky to foresee messages that come from deep space or look for signs of extraterrestrial life.
With the help of their instruments and spacecrafts, they will be learning more about the universe and our place in it on your birthday.
