UPSC CSE 2024 General Studies Paper - II Answer Keys

UPSC CSE 2024 General Studies Paper - I Answer Keys

1. Free English Booklet

2. Free Current Affairs Total (CAT)

3. Register for Upcoming Batch on 23-05-2025 Last 3 Seats

4. UPSC Mains 2024 Result

5. HiBE (Hit the Bull's Eye) Prelims 2025

6. ENSURE IAS Toppers Mock Interview

7. Fix Appointment With Sachin Jain Sir

8. Daily Quiz for Mastering Prelims

7900-44-7900

ensureias@gmail.com

99.999% of Earth’s Deep Seafloor Yet To Be Observed

99.999% of Earth’s Deep Seafloor Yet To Be Observed

22-05-2025

Relevance: GS I; Geography; Oceanography;

 

Why in the News?
 

Researchers recently analyzed over 43,000 records of deep-sea dives and found that only about 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been directly studied.

  • 99.999% of the remaining portion still remains unseen by human eyes.
  • 97% of recorded deep-sea dives had been performed by only five countries: the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, France, and Germany.

 

What Is the Deep Seafloor?

  • The deep seafloor refers to ocean areas deeper than 200 meters (656 feet).
  • It includes diverse features: abyssal plains, trenches, ridges, seamounts, and hydrothermal vents.
  • Oceans cover 71% of Earth’s surface; about 66% of the planet is classified as deep ocean.
  • Deep ocean is cold with an average temperature of only 4°C and is subject to extreme pressure, from about 40 to over 110 times the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere.
    • Fauna: Squid, krill, jellies, and fish are super abundant in the Mesopelagic Zone (200m-1000m) with about 90% of the world's fish (by weight).
  • In the recent study, the geomorphological features like ridges and canyons saw a disproportionate amount of exploration, compared to abyssal plains that dominate the seafloor.
     

What is the significance of the deep seafloor?
 

  • Biodiversity: Deep sea is home to countless unique species. Most deep-sea life is still undiscovered.
  • Climate Regulation: It helps to store carbon and control Earth’s climate. Deep-sea also processes slow down global warming
  • Oxygen Production: Oceans, including the deep sea, produce much of the oxygen we breathe.
  • Medical & Industrial Potential: Deep-sea organisms can provide new drugs and biotechnologies.

 

What are the challenges to exploration?
 

  • Extreme Environment: High pressure, low temperatures, and darkness make exploration technically demanding and costly.
  • Cost: Deep-sea missions require advanced submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), costing millions per expedition.
  • Geographic Bias: Nearly all deep-sea dives have occurred within 200 nautical miles of just a few countries, leaving vast regions unstudied.
  • Data Gaps: Most of the mapped areas are canyons and escarpments, while abyssal plains and mid-ocean ridges are neglected.
    • Without comprehensive data, managing fisheries, mineral extraction, and conservation is fraught with uncertainty.
    • Unknown habitats and species could be lost before they are even discovered, especially as interest in deep-sea mining grows.

What needs to be done? (Way Forward)
 

  • Technological Innovation: Cheaper, more robust Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) could democratize deep-sea exploration.
    • Advances in imaging, data processing, and remote sensing are needed to scale up observation efforts.
  • International Collaboration: A systematic, global initiative is required to map and observe the deep seafloor, involving more countries and diverse regions.
    • Sharing data and technology will accelerate discovery and inform global policy.

 

 

A-to-I RNA Editing

Trade Restrictions against Bangladesh

99.999% of Earth’s Deep Seafloor Yet To Be Observed