Deep Ocean Discovery

Have you ever wondered about the deep waters of the ocean and the creatures that inhabit them? Have you ever thought about the composition of that vast unknown environment? The deep waters of the ocean are defined in a very unique way. Also, deep oceans are explored using various technologies. Information on the many creatures that inhabit these deep waters of the ocean is scarce and continually changing.


In definition, the deep ocean is "any place away from coasts and beyond the continental shelves where the seafloor drops away to extreme depths". The ocean has two main sections, which are the surface layer and deep waters. In between the surface waters and deep waters, there is a region called the pycnocline. Pycnocline means rapid change of density. The temperature of deep ocean waters is about 3 degrees Celsius. Majority of deep ocean water is created when surface water in the North Atlantic Ocean becomes so dense it sinks. It becomes dense enough to sink because of the cold temperature and high salinity level in the water.


Then currents direct the movement of this deep ocean water. Currents will cause the deep ocean water to flow past the equator and into the Southern Hemisphere. Next, this deep ocean water will flow past Antarctica and into the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. In these destinations, some of the deep ocean water is transformed back into surface water. This occurs because the water's temperature increases until it decreases in density, which allows the water to rise to the surface. This "cycle of ocean water circulation" is referred to as "conveyor belt cycling" and is considered a simplified version of "real global ocean circulation".

Throughout decades of investigation, less than ten percent of the deep ocean has been explored. Even though the deep ocean realm is considered to be the largest habitat for life on Earth, there are still many "sea monsters" or deep ocean inhabitants yet to be discovered. Cryptosaras couesi or angler fish is one of the most commonly discussed deep ocean creatures. Another creature, which is characterized by its huge mouth, is the Eurypharynx pelecanoides. This is otherwise known as the "umbrella mouth gulper" or the pelican eel and commonly inhabits oceans at depths exceeding 6,500 feet. A discovered creature that has never been photographed in its natural deep ocean habitat is the viper fish or Chauliodus sloani. These deep ocean creatures are discovered by different methods of discovery.

Deep ocean discoveries are made possible through the use of vessels, submersibles, diving, and observation tools. Vessels are commonly referred to as "the most critical element in any oceangoing exploration". Vessels are sophisticated "mobile research platforms" and are equipped with submersibles, divers, and observation tools. Submersibles are designed to descend to ocean floor, which allows firsthand exploration of the deep oceans. Diving allows explorers to research underwater for hours with the use of the "aqua lung". Observation tools also aid scientists in learning about the underwater world because they are the means by which the most information can be gathered about the ocean.

The deep waters of the ocean are a curiosity to many people. Even though the ocean covers a vast majority of our planet and has been explored for many decades, there is still so much to uncover. As technology continues to advance, more information about the deep waters of the ocean will be known. Therefore the information about the creatures that dwell in the deep ocean waters will also be more prevalent.