Scientists have said that we have only discovered 5% of the sea areas in the world. We know only 5% of the sea. With this less amount there is a huge number of aquatic creatures. Every day new creatures are being discovered. In the sea-based areas there are 2 mysterious places in the world. One is the Bermuda triangle, while the other is the Mariana trench.
In this blog, we will discuss the Mariana Trench. We will dive into the place and try to discover these mysterious phenomena.
Exploring the Mariana Trench
Mariana Trench is situated on the western Pacific Ocean. This is the deepest known point on Earth. It goes down by almost 11,034 meters( 36,200 ft). Its deepest point is the challenger deep. It is so deep that if you were to put down Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain at the bottom of the trench, it would still not reach the surface. Remember, Mount Everest is around 8000 meters. So basically, the Mariana trench is really a mysterious phenomenon.
The Mariana trench is a place with an extreme and harsh environment. Being so deep in the ocean, sunlight doesn’t reach towards the bottom. There is the pressure of tons of water, extreme darkness, and freezing temperature.
Exploring the trench is quite daring. Because without proper equipment and infrastructure, humans cannot access the Mariana trench. Extreme pressure and hostile environment are the main obstacles. To gain knowledge of the trench at first you need to know the safety measurement of the explorers and planning with innovative technology.
Life forms in the Mariana trench
Humans can’t survive this harsh and inhabitable environment. But there are life forms who can and have been surviving in this environment. There is an abundance of life forms in the trench. Scientists took some mud samples from Challenger deep, which consisted of around 200 different microorganisms.
Thus, this place which is hell for many creatures for many species on this planet, some creatures have adapted themselves beyond the imagination of man.
A fish with a Guiness world record is found in the trench. “Mariana snailfish” was discovered in the depths of 26,000 feet. This is the deepest discovery of a fish ever recorded. This fish has evolved itself to withstand such pressure which summarizes the weight of 1600 elephants standing on a small car.
However, most of the creatures down there are microscopic, invisible to the naked eye. Some creatures are eerie and terrifying, rather beautiful. Bioluminescence is a common behavior of deep sea creatures. These lights are used to catch prey and reproduce in pitch black. Fishes like Seadevil Anglerfish, deep sea dragonfish, and hatchet fish are some of these creatures.
Some critters consume decayed parts of many sea creatures. Fishes like hagfish eat carcasses, zombie worms eat bones.
What is the future of the Mariana Trench?
The deep sea fascinates us for its unpredictable and ever-changing nature. From absolute calm to devastating wild power, the deep sea amazes us. Its depths also amaze us. Mariana Trench is not far from it. Still, The Mariana Trench is not quite accessible to men due to certain technical issues. However, it can be searched for curative qualities, mining, the discovery of new species, waste disposal, and commercial deep-sea fishing.
The role Mariana Trench plays in earth’s ecosystem
The Mariana Trench plays a pivotal role in Earth’s ecosystem. The trench helps to regulate carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by trapping it in the sediment. Scientists are still searching to understand the Mariana Trench and how it may be affected by climate change.
But, it is sad to inform you that even the deepest part of the Mariana Trench is also affected by plastic pollution. It may be the biggest source of microplastic debris on the planet. Samples taken from the sediment show that the bottom of the trench contained 2200 microplastic pieces per liter, mostly in the fibers which are a few millimeters long. These fibers come from packaging, bottles, and polyester clothing.
The Mariana Trench is a fantastic and mysterious place. This place shows us the diversity of the Earth. It continues to challenge the understanding of the history of the planet and its future. As we continue to explore the trench we will likely discover more secrets.
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Mostofa Imam
Intern
Content writing department
YSSE.