Comments on: Perceptions of the deep sea http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/ The Ocean and its Inhabitants Sat, 17 May 2008 01:51:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: steve haddock http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-10 steve haddock Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:36:23 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-10 @sglasson -- Good question. Speaking of getting the facts before writing, I don't know the exact percentage of the sea that has been explored. It partly depends on definitions. A lot of people think of the deep sea as just being the bottom, but there is vastly more living space up in the water-column. For the portion of the bottom we've actually laid eyes on, the number I've heard is 0.5% (1/200th or half a percent, not half), and for the water column it must be at most 100x less than that. In short: not much. EDIT: just read the 0.5% as an estimate in Craig McClain's excellent <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2007.01783.x" rel="nofollow">review of seamount biology</a> @sglasson — Good question. Speaking of getting the facts before writing, I don’t know the exact percentage of the sea that has been explored. It partly depends on definitions. A lot of people think of the deep sea as just being the bottom, but there is vastly more living space up in the water-column. For the portion of the bottom we’ve actually laid eyes on, the number I’ve heard is 0.5% (1/200th or half a percent, not half), and for the water column it must be at most 100x less than that. In short: not much. EDIT: just read the 0.5% as an estimate in Craig McClain’s excellent review of seamount biology

]]> By: sglasson http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-9 sglasson Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:44:15 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-9 I think it's great that you're pointing out misconceptions such as what was published in this highly distributed magazine. People need to get all the facts before they print. I remember hearing something about a huge percentage of the sea that we haven't even discovered (visited) yet I think it was more than half). Do you know what the percentage is now? I think it’s great that you’re pointing out misconceptions such as what was published in this highly distributed magazine. People need to get all the facts before they print. I remember hearing something about a huge percentage of the sea that we haven’t even discovered (visited) yet I think it was more than half). Do you know what the percentage is now?

]]> By: steve haddock http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-7 steve haddock Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:14:38 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-7 @Jay -- ;^) I'm with you on the buzzwords, but for once it's not hyperbole... You should see these things. [<a href="http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/organism/pictures/radiolarian.html" rel="nofollow">external image</a>] I guess I could have called them "Sputniks". The basic building block of the spherical lattice is hexagonal/triangular, rather than pentagonal as in some fullerenes, but structurally they are closer (~identical) to Fuller's original geodesic domes. Maybe I'll post about them at some point down the road. @Jay — ;^) I’m with you on the buzzwords, but for once it’s not hyperbole… You should see these things. [external image] I guess I could have called them “Sputniks”.

The basic building block of the spherical lattice is hexagonal/triangular, rather than pentagonal as in some fullerenes, but structurally they are closer (~identical) to Fuller’s original geodesic domes.

Maybe I’ll post about them at some point down the road.

]]> By: Jay http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-6 Jay Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:09:49 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-6 I love how scientists name everything "buckyballs" I love how scientists name everything “buckyballs”

]]> By: hope http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-5 hope Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:22:38 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-5 I appreciate your quest to help us all explore the deep, outside the mainstream and our misconceptions. I can't wait! I appreciate your quest to help us all explore the deep, outside the mainstream and our misconceptions. I can’t wait!

]]> By: Jackie http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-4 Jackie Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:18:27 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-4 I loved your article and it's so timely! Just this past weekend, the science channel had something about our explorations into the deep, vast unknown. The "sulphur cones" (forgive my ignorance), we used to think nothing could grow around them, since they emit sulphur constantly and the water is boiling hot around them, when in reality they're surrounded by life. All sorts of plants and creatures, a real zoo. This was a real treat, to think that nothing could survive in Venus, for example. Are we completely sure? I guess not. Thank you so much for your wonderful article! I loved your article and it’s so timely! Just this past weekend, the science channel had something about our explorations into the deep, vast unknown. The “sulphur cones” (forgive my ignorance), we used to think nothing could grow around them, since they emit sulphur constantly and the water is boiling hot around them, when in reality they’re surrounded by life. All sorts of plants and creatures, a real zoo. This was a real treat, to think that nothing could survive in Venus, for example. Are we completely sure? I guess not.

Thank you so much for your wonderful article!

]]> By: Gretchie http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-3 Gretchie Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:29:20 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-3 I fully support your effort to education us about the deep sea creatures. I'm a water baby and have spent years under the surface of the sea but nothing in that realm compares to these deep sea life forms. I liken them to alien life forms that we may one day discover in the seas on the moons of Jupiter. But before we venture out there, we need to learn more about the life in our own seas. I fully support your effort to education us about the deep sea creatures. I’m a water baby and have spent years under the surface of the sea but nothing in that realm compares to these deep sea life forms. I liken them to alien life forms that we may one day discover in the seas on the moons of Jupiter. But before we venture out there, we need to learn more about the life in our own seas.

]]> By: jorgesalazar http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-2 jorgesalazar Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:31:29 +0000 http://blogs.earthsky.org/stevehaddock/2007/10/24/perceptions-of-the-deep-sea/#comment-2 Thanks for expanding our awareness of life so alien to us landlubbers. Personally, I think the <a href="http://www.mbari.org/data/info/grimpo.htm" rel="nofollow">dumbo octopus</a> (Grimpoteuthis) is pretty cool. I hope we can learn more about benthic species before fishing pressure finds its way to them. Thanks for expanding our awareness of life so alien to us landlubbers. Personally, I think the dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis) is pretty cool. I hope we can learn more about benthic species before fishing pressure finds its way to them.

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