The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet only about 20% of it has been explored, leaving 80% still unknown. This vast and mysterious part of the planet is home to a wealth of species, ecosystems, and natural resources that remain largely untouched by human hands.
While much attention is given to the exploration of space, the ocean, one of the most vital parts of our planet, remains one of the least explored and understood environments.
So, why has so much of the ocean remained unexplored, and what are the consequences of this lack of exploration?
The Challenges of Ocean Exploration
There are several factors contributing to the limited exploration of the ocean:
1. Technological Limitations
The ocean is an incredibly difficult environment to study. It has an average depth of about 3,800 meters, with some areas, like the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, plunging over 10,000 meters below the surface.
To explore these depths requires specialized technology, including submersibles and remote-operated vehicles (ROVs), which are expensive and difficult to operate at such extreme depths. The costs involved in conducting oceanic research can be astronomical, making large-scale exploration efforts challenging to sustain.
2. Harsh Environmental Conditions
The ocean’s harsh conditions, extreme pressures, cold temperatures, and darkness, make it an inhospitable environment for human exploration. In addition, the corrosive effects of saltwater on equipment and machinery pose significant challenges for long-term research missions.
Unlike space exploration, which benefits from vacuum conditions, the ocean environment is constantly changing, with factors such as currents, tides, and weather conditions making research even more complicated.
3. Limited Research Funding
While space exploration often receives significant funding, ocean exploration has not been as heavily prioritized, especially in developing countries.
Governments and private entities have historically invested more in aerospace than in marine science. As a result, many ocean research projects face limited funding, which hinders progress in exploring the vast unknown.
The Lack of Data Hindering Ocean Protection
The fact that over 80% of the ocean remains unexplored has serious implications for marine conservation efforts. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential to protecting vulnerable ocean ecosystems, but only about 7% of the world’s oceans are designated as MPAs.
One of the primary reasons for this is the lack of information about what exists in the vast expanses of the ocean. Without this knowledge, it’s challenging to identify areas that need protection.
As Oceana highlights, explorations are crucial to discovering new species, new habitats, and identifying vulnerable areas that were once overlooked. By exploring previously unexplored regions, scientists can gather scientific data, photographs, and video footage that support the creation of new MPAs or the expansion of existing ones.
However, many governments cite the lack of information as a reason for not taking action to protect the oceans. Without sufficient data, it is difficult to identify which areas need protection and how to manage them effectively.
Furthermore, without solid data, stakeholders often oppose the creation of new protected areas, leading to a situation where areas are left unprotected, despite their critical ecological value.
The Importance of Continued Ocean Exploration
The need for further exploration of the ocean is clear. Expanding our understanding of the deep sea not only helps with biodiversity conservation but also aids in understanding the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
As scientists continue to explore new ocean depths, they are uncovering species that have never been seen before and habitats that are uniquely adapted to life in the extreme conditions of the deep ocean.
The discoveries made during ocean exploration can inform policy-making and conservation efforts, ultimately leading to more effective protections for the ocean’s most vulnerable ecosystems. With better data, governments can create and enforce regulations to protect these areas and ensure their survival for future generations.
A Call for Greater Exploration and Protection
The fact that 80% of the ocean remains unexplored is a stark reminder of how much we still don’t know about the planet’s most important resource.
The ocean plays a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing resources for millions of people. Yet, despite the urgent need for conservation, the ocean remains one of the least understood and most vulnerable places on Earth.
Efforts to protect the ocean must be accompanied by continued exploration, which is essential to gaining the knowledge necessary for better marine conservation. It is only through exploration that we can uncover the ocean’s hidden treasures and ensure that these ecosystems are protected for future generations.
