But sunlight typically only penetrates water to a depth of 656 feet, where the water pressure is about 21 atmospheres, or roughly equivalent to two adult humans balancing on a one-square-inch spot. For instance, a variety of plants and animals thrive in the epipelagic, or sunlight, zone-the top layer of water, where light is strong and pressure is relatively low. Scientists have divided the ocean’s depths into various zones, and the light and pressure in each one determines what kind of life can survive there. Benoit-Bird, Skye Morét and Jen Christiansen, in Scientific American August 2022 For every 33 feet (10 meters) of saltwater depth, pressure increases by another atmosphere.Ĭredit: Jen Christiansen, modified from “How the Ocean Sustains Complex Life,” by Mark Fischetti, Kelly J. Start descending into the ocean, and the air’s weight is joined by that of the water. That’s why the pressure at sea level is often characterized as one atmosphere, a unit equivalent to almost 15 pounds per square inch (psi). Everything on Earth’s surface experiences some pressure from the weight of the air above us. If the Titan has become stranded at lower depths, one of the greatest dangers it faces is increasing water pressure as the ocean gets deeper. Remotely operated diving vehicles have been targeting the location of those sounds. Sonar buoys did, however, detect underwater banging noises within the search region. The submersible does not seem to be at the water’s surface, because attempts to locate the craft from the air have searched 10,000 square miles of ocean without a glimpse. Search-and-rescue efforts continue for the Titan submersible, an underwater craft that went missing on Sunday with five people onboard during a dive to the shipwrecked remains of the Titanic. For more coverage of the submersible, see “ What Happened to Imploded Titanic Tourist Sub?” OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owns the vehicle, declared that the Titan and all five people onboard were lost. Coast Guard announced that a remotely operated vehicle found debris from the Titan submersible.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |