With scientists and Xinhua journalist Liu Shiping aboard, China's Jiaolong submersile completed another dive in the Mariana Trench on Tuesday. The vessel reached depths of 4,811 meters.
The Jiaolong
Xinhua's Liu Shiping
Liu compared his descent under the sea to that of a takeoff of a spacecraft. The journalist marveled at the underwater atmosphere as he claimed he saw “shooting stars passing by” and then “meteor showers” as they plummeted deeper. This extraordinary astronomical phenomenon was likely caused by an ordinary biological circumstance — euphausiid plankton.
After beginning its descent at 7.20am, the Jiaolong halted at the planned plateau point of 4,811 meters two and a half hours later. At this location, scientists tirelessly worked for three hours observing, surveying and collecting samples of seawater, rocks and marine life, including a sea cucumber, two starfish and a sponge. The vessel also photographed the seabed.
The rock data collected from this expedition will help scientists develop their understanding of how the massive Mariana Trench formed. The other biological samples will aid them on their study of the diverse deep-water creatures, ecosystems and biogeography.
Liu was thoroughly impressed with the adventure, saying that "going into the deep oceanic world is a process full of wonder and surprises."
When the craft emerged eight hours and 50 minutes later from the water depths below, Liu was still transfixed with the dark, beautiful, mysterious world below. “In the deep sea surrounded by darkness and quiet, it made me feel the existence and pulse of life," Liu said.
The Jiaolong will take its second deep dive into the trench today (May 25), to the depth of 6,300 meters. More surveys and samples will be collected to help scientists understand the plunging trench. Scientists plan to complete five total deep dives into the Marina Trench in the Jiaolong.
[Images via China Daily, People's Daily]
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