Context: According to a recent study, humans have mapped only 0.001% of the deep ocean since the 1950s. Most of the ocean floor remains unimaged.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts related to Deep Sea; Deep Sea Mission.
What is the Deep Sea?
- Deep sea is broadly defined as the ocean depth where light begins to fade, at an approximate depth of 200 m or more below the sea level.
- Two-thirds of the earth’s surface consists of the deep ocean. It is thus the world’s largest as well as least explored ecosystem.
- The latest study shows:
- Evident geographic disparities in deep-sea exploration. Almost 65% of sightings are from waters around three countries- the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand's coastlines.
- Overrepresentation of oceanic features like canyons and escarpments in observations, whereas abyssal plains, which dominate the seafloor, are under-represented.
Hence, our perception of the deep sea is based on this limited data. This emphasises the necessity for broader global engagement in deep sea exploration and research.
Significance of expanded Deep-Sea Research:
- Build evidence-based policies for ocean protection: The deep ocean stabilises our climate and ecosystems. With growing threats such as deep sea mining and warming, deep-sea research will bridge the gap in knowledge of oceanic processes associated with climate.
- Mapping unexplored species: Deep sea hosts enormous marine biodiversity. It might host species in unexplored areas with medicinal potential, and also aid the conservation efforts of species.
- Resource Potential: Deep sea is a storehouse of untapped natural resources including: Minerals and gas hydrates (poly-metallic nodules, gas hydrates and rare earth elements); Oil and natural gas.
- Strategic importance: Deep-sea infrastructure like undersea cables facilitate over 95% of global internet traffic, and must be safeguarded from potential threats, especially as countries like China advance their deep-sea military capability. Deep-sea research and development is crucial for asserting rights within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), under UNCLOS.
In a bid to explore those vast regions beneath the surface of the ocean, India is preparing for a deep-sea mission- Samudrayaan, expected to be launched by the end of 2026. India will send its scientists 6000 metres beneath the ocean surface in a submersible named Matsya (a 25-tonne titanium-hulled vehicle) to collect biological and geological samples, conduct environmental observations, and explore mineral resources critical to future technologies.
Also Read: Samudrayaan: India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’