It has always been said that the ocean floor is a mystery to humans given the great depth and difficulty of studying it. The ocean trenches They are chasms in the seafloor. Their formation is the result of tectonic plate activity. When one plate converges, it is pushed under the other. This creates what is known as a long, narrow, V-shaped depression that reaches the depths of the ocean. Some of the largest oceanic trenches reach depths of around 10 kilometers below sea level.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about ocean trenches and their main characteristics.
Key features
The deepest oceanic trench is the Mariana Trench located near the Marine Islands with a length of more than 2,542 kilometers. The vast majority of these graves are located in the Pacific Ocean specifically in the area called Ring of Fire. In this pit is the Challenger Abyss that has a depth of 10.911 meters at the deepest part. It is considered as the maximum depth that the ocean reaches. It means that if we compare the Mariana Trench with Mount Everest, it is 2.000 meters deep.
Among the main characteristics that all ocean trenches have, we find high pressure and a lack of sunlight. In almost all trenches there is a large amount of pressure exerted by water at depth. It must also be taken into account that the sunlight does not reach here and, therefore, temperatures also drop a great dealThese are the characteristics that make pits one of the most unique habitats on the planet.
Formation of ocean trenches
Tectonic plates are the cause of the formation of ocean trenches. They are formed mainly by subduction. Subduction is a geophysical process in which two or more tectonic plates converge on each other. Normally, the oldest and densest tectonic plate is the one that is pushed underneath the lightest plate. This plate movement causes the ocean floor of the outer crust to curve into a slope. Usually this depression that forms is shaped like a V. This is how ocean trenches are formed.
We are going to go deeper knowing what the subduction zones are.
Subduction zone
When it is on the edge of a dense tectonic plate with another less dense edge, the plate with higher density bends downward. The place where the densest plate that is subducted is what is known as a subduction zone. This process makes things into geological and dynamic elements. Many of these oceanic trenches are responsible for numerous earthquakes in the sea. When one plate subducts over another, it generates a fairly strong frictional force. They are often the epicenter of large earthquakes and some of the deepest tremors on record.
These things can also form with a subduction zone that encompasses a continental crust and an oceanic crust. It is known that the continental crust always floats more than the oceanic one, so the latter will always subduct. The best known oceanic things are the result of this boundary between converging plates. It is a rare time that an ocean trench forms when two continental plates converge.
Importance of ocean trenches
Humans have long recognized the importance of ocean trenches. Knowledge about their interiors is very limited, especially given their remote location. However, scientists know the fundamental role they play in our lives. Much physical activity takes place in subduction zones. This can have a devastating effect on coastal communities and the global economy. Just look at the earthquakes that occur on the seafloor in subduction zones. They were responsible for the tsunami in Japan in 2011.
Scientists study the characteristics and life that exists in the ocean trenches to better understand our planet. There are numerous ways in which different organisms adapt to the depths of the sea. Many of these adaptations can be extrapolated to make technological and biological advances and improve medicine. Thanks to numerous scientific studies, we can better understand how organisms adapt to the harsh life of these environments. Understanding this form of adaptation can help us understand other areas of research. diabetes treatments up to detergent improvement.
Another of the investigations that has been had about the oceanic trenches is the discovery of microbes. This microbe has its habitat in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. Thanks to the existence of these microbes, it has been discovered that they have potential as new forms of antibiotics and drugs to prevent cancer. All these discoveries and investigations are what make the ocean trenches of great importance.
It can also take us to know the key to understanding the origin of life in the oceanThe genetics of organisms helps us understand the history of how life spread from such isolated ecosystems as these trenches to land via the ocean. More recent discoveries indicate that large amounts of carbon have accumulated in the trenches. This suggests that all of these regions may play a significant role in Earth's climate.
Flora and fauna
Since these places are the most hostile habitats on earth, life is rare. Exists pressure 1000 times greater than that of the surface and a temperature slightly below freezing. The sun doesn't penetrate ocean trenches, making photosynthesis impossible. The organisms that live here have evolved exceptional adaptations to live in these cold, dark canyons.
Without photosynthesis, all these communities have marine snow as their main food. It is the fall of organic material from the heights in the water column. It mainly consists of waste such as excrement and remains of dead organisms such as fish and seaweed. Another source of nutrients does not come from photosynthesis but chemosynthesis. It is the process in which organisms such as bacteria convert chemical compounds into organic nutrients.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about ocean trenches and their importance.