The Mariana Trench, the lowest-known place on Earth, has been a long-standing interest for scientists as well as researchers. Located in the Pacific Ocean, this oceanic trench extends over almost 36,000 feet into the abyssal zone, where no sunlight penetrates and water pressure is staggering.
Notably, with the assistance of ocean exploration and submersible equipment in particular, scientists have started to reveal the mysteries of that underwater world, including the unique and diverse ecosystem dwelling there and the distinct and sometimes odd geological formations.
Those explorations have offered only preliminary data, whereas every mission is expected to contribute to deeper insights and knowledge about marine biology and the life limits. Generally, the future of research into the Mariana Trench promises an array of unexpected findings and discoveries.
The Unique Geological Features and Geology
Being a unique geological feature, the Mariana Trench stretches over more than 1500 miles and reaches heights where very few scientists or researchers have been. In essence, the trench is formed through the subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the Mariana plate and represents an oceanic trench type that could be found throughout the world.
Its deepest point, the Challenger Deep, is nearly 36,000 feet, exceeding more than 1000 times the general atmospheric pressure at sea level. In terms of the environment, this means that the water temperature becomes very low, and no sunlight reaches those depths.
To a large extent, it is those very unreliable, hazardous, and extreme conditions or environments that have spurred a tremendous research drive into developing the most advanced submersible technology to withstand such pressure and environmental conditions and to explore those hidden features.
Somewhat interestingly and surprisingly, in the late 1950s, the trench’s depth was first identified through sonar, an early underwater mapping technique.
After that, more advanced, reliable, and sophisticated submersibles provided more accurate and detailed maps, showing up the presence of dozens of steep cliffs, over thirty hydrothermal vents or fissures, flat and deep abyssal plains, and diverse deep-sea ecosystems and creatures.
In the future, scientists expect to find more not yet known or explored geological formations that could be very beneficial for oceanography, environmental monitoring, or other purposes.
Future Projections for Geological Research
By 2040, improvements in sonar technology and data visualization should increase the accuracy of mapping of the Mariana Trench by 60%. As a result, scientists should be able to provide detailed information about the trench’s characteristics more accurately.
The better imaging of geological formations facilitated by the advanced technical tools will contribute to the understanding of the tectonic processes taking place in the trench and the ability to predict earthquakes and tsunamis the world over.
Unveiling the Biodiversity of Deep-Sea Creatures
Numerous species of deep-sea creatures have made the Mariana Trench their habitat. Adapted to the challenging environment of the trench, most of the species residing in the ecologically challenging environment of the trench feature unique abilities, including but not limited to bioluminescence, specific feeding patterns, and the tools to resist the tremendous pressure.
Many of the newly discovered species residing in the Mariana Trench are snailfish, amphipods, and diverse yet poorly identified types of microorganisms that grow around hydrothermal vents and are not found anywhere outside the trench.
Historical Discoveries of Species
In 1960, the scientists who took a risk documented the numerous species living in the Mariana Trench. In 2014, a deep-sea expedition was organized, during which around 40 new species living in the Mariana Trench were explored.
Moreover, a new type of bacteria, which feeds on methane and hydrogen sulfide, releasing cyclic amino acids as a byproduct and, therefore, allowing an ecosystem to sustain itself in the abyssal zone of the trench, was discovered. Further efforts are believed to uncover even more species living in the Mariana Trench.
Future Projections for Biodiversity Studies
By 2040, 80% of the trench’s ecosystem should be cataloged, and 100 new species should be discovered thanks to the ongoing biodiversity studies. Exploration of the Mariana Trench has required the development of specialized submersible technology that can withstand the high pressure and temperatures of the environment.
Whereas the initial mission in 1960 was executed using the Trieste, which was a highly reinforced vehicle with a steel hull, current technology includes autonomous and remotely operated vehicles equipped with high-resolution cameras, environmental sensors, and robotic arms for sampling.
It was not until 2012, when James Cameron made a solo dive in the Deepsea Challenger, that the unexplored biotopes of the trench’s depths could be documented. The Deepsea Challenger was a complex vehicle with an array of advanced sensors and imaging systems that rendered high-definition pictures of the trench and retrieved samples from all the way to the bottom.
In comparison, the AUVs, which have allowed for remote data collection since the previous decade, can provide continuous monitoring of the trench, feeding real-time data to the vessels at the surface and negating the need for personnel in the dangerous environment.
Technological Innovations in Submersible Vehicles
The current pressure resistance levels of submersibles are likely to be extrapolated by 2035. However, the only technology that would currently allow for the exploration of increased depths would be in the development of even more resistant materials. As a result, I expect to encounter that figure in 1.2 times the current pressure levels.
Future Expectations for Dive Duration and Imaging
In approximately 15 years, the duration of dives will have increased. I expect to observe this figure in 30 hours, which is 1.5 times the duration of the existing dives. I foresee that the quality of imaging with high-definition cameras will improve to show objects that are 70% clearer by 2040.
Autonomous Exploration and Sample Collection Innovations
In 2045, AUVs will be equipped with AI sophisticated enough to allow for the autonomous mapping of regions. I expect the degree of data coverage to be improved by 0.75 as a result. Collecting samples may also improve. Though current robotic arms lack the requisite sensitivity, the forthcoming vehicles will have a mechanism that allows them to collect tiny samples without damaging the most delicate of tissues. I expect them to be able to cover 30% more targets.
Improvements in Data Transfer and Cost Efficiency
While current systems can monitor the transmitting from the AUVs, the manufacturers of which hope to improve the ability fourfold by 2045 to examine the data and make decisions during the dive, I expect to find only 20% improvement. I would expect a 40% reduction in operational costs by 2045.
The Impact of Mariana Trench Research on Marine Biology
The Mariana Trench has become a topic of an unprecedented number of scientific discoveries, which have made significant contributions to marine biology and environmental monitoring. In particular, exploration missions enabled researchers to study the effects of extreme conditions in the abyssal zone on marine life, learning more about the physiological adaptations of deep-sea species. Such scientific findings have since become essential for understanding the ways life can withstand such harsh conditions outside the earth, for instance, in similar environments on other planets.
Additionally, a mission carried out in 2019 has discovered plastic waste in the trench, revealing that even the most remote ecosystems have been significantly affected by human sediments. Thus, the study strongly suggests that environmental monitoring is required in the abyssal zone of oceanic trenches, as both may be at risk of pollution from human activities.
Future missions are likely to focus on pollution tracking, as well as environmental monitoring of the trench, to identify its impact on marine life more accurately and provide data for habitat conservation and climate change studies.
Future Projections for Environmental Monitoring
By 2050, pollutant detection technology integrated into submarines will experience the most significant advancements, with accuracy increasing by 85%. A new submersible mission will allow scientists to monitor pollution tracking in oceanic trenches more accurately, offering an 80% reliability rate in detecting changes in the environment. The data will be a valuable contribution to studies of climate change and inform conservation action in some of humanity’s most remote habitats.
