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Annaliese Tan
Mrs. Lisa
Writing class
23 May 2024
The Ocean and Deep Seas
The ocean is currently one of the greatest mysteries in the world. Scientists have only
seen 5% percent of it and mapped 20%! That really encourages the idea of how big the ocean is.
Think of all the possibilities, and also the small possibility that mermaids might exist. With all
the space under the water surface of earth, don’t you wonder what’s lurking in the depths of it?
The deepest part of the ocean as we know it is the Mariana Trench, located beneath the
western Pacific Ocean and also holding the Challenger Deep, deepest spot in the ocean.
Compared to the tallest building on land, the Burj Khalifa, the Mariana Trench can hold the
height of 13 Burj Khalifas! The Mariana Trench is approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet)
below sea level and has a pressure level of 1.1 kbar or eight tons per square inch. The
temperature ranges from 34 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Some other parts of the deep sea contain
underwater volcanoes that can rise to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit! These volcanoes are caused by
tectonic plate movement, just like any other volcanoes.
The years 1872-1876 was when the first systematic deep sea exploration was conducted
by the Challenger expedition on board the ship HMS Challenger led by Charles Wyville
Thomson. The Challenger Deep was named after the ship! Later in 1960, Don Walsh and
Jacques Piccard were the first two to reach the deepest spot on the ocean floor, followed by
James Cameron solo diving 52 years later.
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There are so many animals and creatures under the sea as well. More than 242,000
marine species live in the world’s oceans, but scientists say there are most likely about 750,000!
There are many different organisms in the sea starting with common fish, sharks, coral, algae,
jellyfish, sea cucumbers, turtles, sea lions, whales and so many more! Some of the most common
creatures found in the deep sea consist of the angler fish, vampire squid, Japanese spider crab,
giant isopod, and giant squid.
Many deep sea marine species use the darkness and water pressure to hunt. Since some
colors, like red, can't be seen in deep waters, fish use this to trick its prey. While the best colors
to withstand the waters are blue, cyan, and green. Some creatures are red, the color mentioned to
be nearly impossible to see in deep waters. Well, a particular fish called the loosejaw dragonfish
emits red light from under its eyes, illuminating those red colored animals, making them a prey
for the loosejaw dragonfish, when they usually aren't prey to other predators. The red light can
also be used as light in the darkest part of the ocean. Other fish or creatures can’t see this red, so
their predator cannot be seen, making it easier for the loosejaw dragonfish to hunt.
The ocean is at the heart of Earth's climate system, playing a central role in regulating
currents and climate and storing the carbon that might otherwise cause global heating. That
explains why the sea is such an important contribution to our planet. There is much to explore
and much we don’t yet know about. Hopefully there will be success in learning and exploring
more about the deep seas. In conclusion, the ocean is the most majestic and powerful element in
nature.
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Works Cited
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
<https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/welcome.html>.
One Ocean. <https://www.oceanprotect.org/>.
