How Do Marine Organisms Survive in deep ocean water?
This question has become increasingly popular in recent times, particularly since the occurrence of the Titan submersible incident last month.
The unfortunate event involved the Titan submersible, a watercraft designed for underwater exploration, which encountered a malfunction and sank to great depths.
Five individuals aboard were unable to withstand the extreme water pressure and lost their lives. This series of events has sparked curiosity regarding the capacity of living beings to endure such pressure.
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| Titan OceanGate |
Pressure-depth Relationship
Before seeking an answer, let us first examine the reason behind the escalating pressure with increasing depth in the ocean and how it can be measured. The pressure of water at varying depths can be determined using a formula.
Pressure = ρ × g × h
The formula indicates that the pressure at a certain depth in a fluid increases with an increase in the density of the fluid, the acceleration due to gravity, and the depth of the submerged point.
Pressure depth chart
Additionally, a water pressure depth chart visually represents the pressure changes at different depths. For instance, at every 10-meter increment, the pressure increases by a certain amount.
This relationship between depth and pressure is vital to understanding how living organisms adapt.
Ocean Depth Pressure Calculator
Titan and Depth
The general understanding is that for every 10 meters of descent, the water pressure increases by approximately 1 atm.
Applying this concept to the Titan submersible, which aimed to reach a depth of nearly 4 kilometers, the pressure would reach an astounding 400 atm.
Pressure in the Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench, the lowest point in the world's oceans, lies approximately 11 kilometers below sea level and experiences a pressure exceeding 1100 atm.
To put this into perspective, imagine the weight of 100 elephants 🐘 placed upon your head; undoubtedly, your head would not withstand such an enormous force.
Therefore, let us keep our distance from such extreme scenarios.
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| Mariana Trench |
Daring Explorers
Despite the immense pressure present in the Mariana Trench, it is intriguing to note that around 27 individuals have ventured to explore its depths.
These brave individuals possess specialized knowledge and training, allowing them to withstand the colossal water pressure.
Limiting Factor
Victor Lance Vescovo, a millionaire and former US Navy officer, has descended into the Mariana Trench using his submersible, the "Limiting Factor" a remarkable nine times.
Additionally, between 2019 and 2022, several other adventurers utilized the "Limiting Factor" to explore the Mariana Trench at a depth of approximately 11 kilometers.
Strength and Durability in Submersibles
The construction of the "Limiting Factor" submersible incorporates titanium, a material renowned for its strength and durability.
It is worth mentioning that the recent incident involving the Titan submersible may have been influenced by the use of different materials in its construction, including carbon fiber and titanium.
Role of Carbon Fiber and Titanium
Some experts speculate that the failure of the Titan submersible could be attributed to the different materials reacting differently under the same temperature and pressure conditions, potentially resulting in microfracture.
However, it is important to note that this hypothesis requires further investigation to confirm its validity.
How Do Marine Organisms Survive in deep ocean water?
Now, Marine Organisms like the Mariana snailfish, sea cucumbers, and various other creatures residing in the Mariana Trench may initially appear soft and squishy, but when approached, they expel thread-like structures from their posterior ends as a defensive mechanism.
Numerous marine creatures can endure the pressure in the ocean's deepest regions just as effortlessly as humans live under normal societal pressure at sea level.
Compression
This is due to the principle that if an object is entirely filled with water, additional pressure will not compress it further.
Adding more water pressure to an object already filled with water will not significantly impact its compression.
It requires extraordinarily high pressure to compress water, and in the Mariana Trench, water can only be compressed by approximately 5% of its volume.
If an organism consists primarily of water, it can withstand extreme water pressure.
Additionally, the organisms residing at great depths do not possess lungs or gills like their terrestrial counterparts. Instead, they obtain oxygen through a process known as diffusion.
Trimethylamine oxide
Furthermore, these organisms possess a significant amount of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), a chemical compound that forms a protective shield around their proteins and tissues.
This shield enables them to survive the extreme pressure and cold temperatures found in the deep ocean.
Bone Flexibility
Moreover, the bones of deep-sea creatures exhibit flexibility, unlike the rigid bones of land-dwelling animals. This flexibility allows them to withstand pressure and resist collapse.
