English practice 5
Into the Trenches It has often been suggested that, contrary to the worn-out time1 saying, the ocean, rather than space, is the true final frontier. There is2 the immense pressure that poses a serious danger to unknown geography that can injure people and vessel alike, various factors make sending human explorers very risky3. Deep-sea expeditions also tend to incur prohibitive costs, with the cost increasing as the expedition ventures into deeper regions. The deepest section of the ocean is the Marianas Trench.
Due primarily to its depth and the potential for danger, the Marianas Trench remains largely unexplored to this day. 4
The shallow portions of the oceans also hold many fascinating species of plants and animals. The environment.5 hostile though it may be to man, is hospitable to others.6 allowing7 for the development of creatures not found anywhere else on the planet. The first and last exploration of the Marianas Trench's floor took place in 1960. Therefore,8 the cost of sending people back has been seen as too great, the danger as too serious.
The goal, then, has been to find a way to learn about this frontier without risking the lives of scientist-explorers. One way that scientists had discovered9 new information is through the use of sonar. As sonar—which is far less expensive than a human-led diving expedition is10—capabilities have improved, scientists have been able to get more accurate maps of the ocean's floor based on sound-imaging.
Another method of exploration that has become more common in recent years, as technology has advanced revolves11 as12 simple for cameras and as advanced as underwater robots able to perform a wide-range of functions. The latter have become increasingly common in recent years as they have become ever more advanced.
The question faced today is why13 these underwater robots will be sufficient, eliminating the need to send humans back into the depths. Most of the robots used thus far have been14 "tethered," or attached in some way to a larger device with people aboard15, the day when the robots can move independently may not be far off. Given the extreme depths of some locations, however, it seems likely that self-propelled robots will become more useful and handy. If that is the case, one is forced to wonder: Are more complex robots truly the key.16 or will humans need to venture back into the ocean's inky depths?
