Exploring the Mariana Trench

What primary geological process formed the Mariana Trench?

• Subduction

• Erosion

• Volcanism

• Sedimentation

What significant challenge did Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh face during their descent in the Trieste submersible in 1960?

• They encountered extreme currents

• They faced a cracked viewing window

• They were unable to communicate with surface

• They lost navigational control

How do organisms in the Mariana Trench primarily obtain energy in the absence of sunlight?

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Chemosynthesis

• Fermentation

What were the potential benefits of the discoveries in the Mariana Trench, particularly regarding biomedicine?

• Enhanced agricultural methods

• Innovative biosensors

• New antibiotics and treatments

• Improved chemical engineering

What is the significance of the giant amphipod Hadalus gigas found in the Mariana Trench?

• It is the largest fish documented at those depths

• It provides insights into the evolution of life on land

• It exhibits soft-bodied characteristics and uses aluminum armor

• It thrives on photosynthesis

What technology did the HMS Challenger use for its initial discovery of the trench's depth in 1875?

• Ultrasonic depth finders

• Weighted sounding line

• Deep-sea cameras

• Sonar mapping

What does the term 'Hadel Zone' in the context of the Mariana Trench refer to?

• An area with abundant sunlight

• A region of rich biodiversity

• A dark and high-pressure zone

• A surface area with frequent volcanic activity

Which of the following statements reflects the ecological impact of human activities on the Mariana Trench?

• No impact due to its remote location

• Increased tourism has helped conserve the area

• Plastic waste has been found in this remote area

• Industrial fishing has increased biodiversity

What is a primary characteristic of the microbial mats observed during James Cameron's expedition in 2012?

• They thrive on sunlight

• They are clusters of microorganisms surviving without sunlight

• They consist solely of plant life

• They are primarily composed of larger animals

How did the depth measurement of the Challenger Deep, the trench's deepest point, first occur?

• Using an underwater drone

• Through direct human observation

• With a weighted sounding line

• Combining satellite imagery