hiddeen d pths

HIDDEN DEPTHS A B C D E F 1 In stories, a mermaid is a woman with a fish’s tail who lives in the ocean. 2 Oceanography is the study of the ocean. 3 A sample is a small amount of something that shows you what the rest is like. 4 A tsunami is a very large wave that can cause damage on land. 5 A frontier is a place that people are just starting to explore. Oceans have always seemed mysterious. In the past, people believed that giant dragons and other monsters lived deep in the seas. Other people imagined mermaids 1 and underwater cities. Today, much of the world’s oceans are still a mystery. “The oceans cover 71 percent of our planet,” says oceanography 2 professor Dr. Robert Ballard. “Yet only 5 percent of it has been explored.” In fact, we know more about some areas of Mars than about some parts of the world’s oceans. MOUNTAINS IN THE SEA New technology, however, is helping scientists explore these hidden worlds. For example, scientists are using an underwater vehicle called DeepSee to explore seamounts—underwater mountains. Scientists have used DeepSee to study Las Gemelas, an area of seamounts near Costa Rica. A huge variety of species lives on and around Las Gemelas. Some of these species have never been seen before. Some may have chemicals that can help people fight illnesses, such as cancer. DOWN IN THE DEPTHS The deepest place on Earth is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The ocean floor there is about 36,000 feet (11,000 meters) deep. In 2012, filmmaker and explorer James Cameron reached the Mariana Trench in a vehicle called Deepsea Challenger. He was the first person to complete the journey alone. Cameron took photos and video on the ocean floor. He also collected underwater samples. 3 Vehicles such as Deepsea Challenger are helping us discover new animals and plants. Some of these have been around for millions of years. These discoveries could help us better understand how life on our planet began. Deep-sea exploration also helps us in other ways. For example, we are learning how underwater earthquakes cause tsunamis. 4 As Cameron says, “This is the beginning of opening up [a] new frontier.” 5 16 140 UNIT 8 Some strange creatures live in the deepest parts of the oceans, such as the frilled shark (top), viperfish (middle), and giant spider crab (bottom).

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HIDDEn DEpTHS

1In stories, a mermaid is a woman with a fish’s tail who lives in the ocean.2Oceanography is the study of the ocean.3A sample is a small amount of something that shows you what the rest is like.4A tsunami is a very large wave that can cause damage on land.5A frontier is a place that people are just starting to explore.

Oceans have always seemed mysterious. In the past, people believed that giant dragons and other monsters lived deep in the seas. Other people imagined mermaids1 and underwater cities.

Today, much of the world’s oceans are still a mystery. “The oceans cover 71 percent of our planet,” says oceanography2 professor Dr. Robert Ballard. “Yet only 5 percent of it has been explored.” In fact, we know more about some areas of Mars than about some parts of the world’s oceans.

MOuntains in the sea

New technology, however, is helping scientists explore these hidden worlds. For example, scientists are using an underwater vehicle called DeepSee to explore seamounts—underwater mountains.

Scientists have used DeepSee to study Las Gemelas, an area of seamounts near Costa Rica. A huge variety of species lives on and around Las Gemelas. Some of these species have never been seen before. Some may have chemicals that can help people fight illnesses, such as cancer.

DOwn in the Depths

The deepest place on Earth is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The ocean floor there is about 36,000 feet (11,000 meters) deep. In 2012, filmmaker and explorer James Cameron reached the Mariana Trench in a vehicle called Deepsea Challenger. He was the first person to complete the journey alone. Cameron took photos and video on the ocean floor. He also collected underwater samples.3

Vehicles such as Deepsea Challenger are helping us discover new animals and plants. Some of these have been around for millions of years. These discoveries could help us better understand how life on our planet began. Deep-sea exploration also helps us in other ways. For example, we are learning how underwater earthquakes cause tsunamis.4 As Cameron says, “This is the beginning of opening up [a] new frontier.”5

140 U N I T 8

Some strange creatures live in the deepest parts of the oceans, such as the frilled shark (top), viperfish (middle), and giant spider crab (bottom).

PW_RW_SBF_07755_U08_129-146_pp6.indd 140 26/10/17 3:37 pm