By Ashley Joseph

Seventy one percent of our world is covered by oceans. Yet, the ocean depths remain an undiscovered domain, with much of the ocean and its marine life relatively uncharted. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that as much as 95 percent of the world's waters and 99 percent of the ocean floor are unexplored (Mustain, 2015). With deep-sea exploration gaining momentum in recent years, advancements in oceanographic instrumentation and submersibles are leading to the achievement of major milestones.

Ocean exploration is about making discoveries, investigating the mysteries that lie in the depths, and accepting the uncertainties. When we accept that things are uncharted, that we don’t have all the answers, then we can utilize scientific investigations and developments in undersea technology to gain a deeper understanding. It is more than wandering aimlessly hoping for a random discovery. It is organized shipbuilding, diving, navigation, measurement, exploration, and cartography. The disciplined observations are crucial in the investigation and documentation of physical, chemical, and biological conditions on the seabed.

Understanding the ocean can provide valuable information about beneficial plants and animals, improve ocean literacy, and evolve instrumentation. For our society, the information gained can help predict the occurrence of natural disasters, and reveal new sources for medical drugs, resources, food, and energy. With our interconnectedness, it is crucial to understand how we are affecting and being affected by changes in the large expanse of sea.

Initial exploration relied solely on humans. The search and examination of the ocean floor was the primary mission, leading to the creation of the first submarine by Cornelius Drebbel in 1623 (Karam, 2020). Despite the advancements of human ocean exploration, it was constrained by numerous safety risks. Thus, human exploration evolved into automated exploration. New mechanical systems have enabled the golden age of ocean research. Entrepreneurial companies are developing cost effective technologies, marking the rise of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remote operated vehicles (ROVs), underwater drones, and smart buoys. According to Mattie Rodrigue, research analyst for the OceanX underwater research initiative, “the advantages that robots have over manned submersibles is that they can often conduct exploratory surveys in conditions far too extreme or dangerous for humans” (Ward, 2020).

Modern deep sea exploration is said to have begun when scientist Pierre Simon de Laplace investigated the depth of the Atlantic ocean by observing tidal motions on Brazilian and African coasts. He calculated the depth to be 3,962 meters, a value proven quite accurate by using sounding measurement techniques.

From 1872 to 1876, British scientists embarked on their landmark expedition aboard the HMS Challenger, a laboratory vessel. The Challenger expedition covered 68,927 miles, and discovered more than 4,700 new species of marine life, including deep-sea organisms. The expedition is credited with capturing the first view of seafloor features and the deep ocean basins (Orr, 2011).

In 2012, James Cameron completed the first successful solo submersible dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is the deepest part of Earth's oceans, and the deepest location of the earth itself. At the ocean floor, Mr. Cameron observed fine sediment, as well as unidentified life forms sprawled about, describing the depths as "a sterile, almost desert-like place” (Morelle, 2012).

Since 2001, NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Program, has led a multidisciplinary ocean exploration program concentrated on US waters (Matignon, 2019). It has allowed US marine sanctuaries to be the site of numerous expeditions. The program chronicles missions, characterizes benthic habitats, and collects and tests samples, deepening our understanding of deep-water organisms, while allowing for future planning.

The continued development of undersea technology allows us to remain optimistic for the future. With undersea drones transforming our mode of exploration, an international scientific team announced a proposal that aims to map the entire floor of the Earth's oceans by 2030. The project, Seabed 2030, plans on utilizing tracking ships with advanced multibeam bathymetry technology. The exploration is vital to gaining a better understanding of marine life and viewing the ocean as a whole (Seabed 2030: Map the Gaps, 2020).

Despite advances in technology, most of the ocean remains unseen by human eyes. Although goals are set, it is difficult to determine what can actually be accomplished. Whatever the future holds, it will surely advance young minds. According to Dr. Robert Ballard, oceanographic researcher, “The generation of kids in middle schools right now will explore more of Earth than all previous generations combined. Let that sink in. They're going to explore more of Earth than everyone that's been on this planet before them. That’s pretty cool” (National Geographic Society, 2015).

The unknown, unexplored, and unseen ocean floor is a mysterious world within arm’s reach. There is life 18,000 feet below the ocean surface that forms a relatively undiscovered domain. Scientists continue to work tirelessly to explore the massive frontier with their variety of sophisticated technologies. The voyage to the ocean bottom remains challenging, but what they continue to find is truly astonishing!

Works Cited

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Matignon, L. (September 08, 2019). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration & Space Law. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.spacelegalissues.com/the-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration/

Morelle, R. (March 26, 2012). James Cameron back on surface after deepest ocean dive. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17503395

Mustain, A. (June 08, 2015). Mysteries of the Oceans Remain Vast and Deep. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/14493-ocean-exploration-deep-sea-diving.html

National Geographic Society. (January 28, 2015). Ocean Exploration: Technology. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/ocean-exploration/

Orr, G. (October 22, 2011). The Timeline: Deep-sea exploration. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-timeline-deep-sea-exploration-2189044.html

Seabed 2030: Map the Gaps. (May 27, 2020). Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/seabed-2030-map-gaps

SurferToday.com, E. (2016). What are the Five Oceans of the World? Retrieved October 09, 2020, from http://www.surfertoday.com/environment/what-are-the-five-oceans-of-the-world

Ward, T. (June 19, 2020). How Robots are Transforming our Exploration of the Oceans. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://www.msamlin.com/en/chart-hub/english/how-robots-are-transforming-our-exploration-of-the-oceans.html

Exploring the Undiscovered Domain