The Innovation (May 2021)

Geology, environment, and life in the deepest part of the world’s oceans

  • Mengran Du,
  • Xiaotong Peng,
  • Haibin Zhang,
  • Cong Ye,
  • Shamik Dasgupta,
  • Jiwei Li,
  • Jiangtao Li,
  • Shuangquan Liu,
  • Hengchao Xu,
  • Chuanxu Chen,
  • Hongmei Jing,
  • Hongzhou Xu,
  • Jun Liu,
  • Shunping He,
  • Lisheng He,
  • Shanya Cai,
  • Shun Chen,
  • Kaiwen Ta

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 2
p. 100109

Abstract

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Summary: The hadal zone, mostly comprising of deep trenches and constituting of the deepest part of the world’s oceans, represents the least explored habitat but one of the last frontiers on our planet. The present scientific understanding of the hadal environment is still relatively rudimentary, particularly in comparison with that of shallower marine environments. In the last 30 years, continuous efforts have been launched in deepening our knowledge regarding the ecology of the hadal trench. However, the geological and environmental processes that potentially affect the sedimentary, geochemical and biological processes in hadal trenches have received less attention. Here, we review recent advances in the geology, biology, and environment of hadal trenches and offer a perspective of the hadal science involved therein. For the first time, we release high-definition images taken by a new full-ocean-depth manned submersible Fendouzhe that reveal novel species with an unexpectedly high density, outcrops of mantle and basaltic rocks, and anthropogenic pollutants at the deepest point of the world’s ocean. We advocate that the hydration of the hadal lithosphere is a driving force that influences a variety of sedimentary, geochemical, and biological processes in the hadal trench. Hadal lithosphere might host the Earth’s deepest subsurface microbial ecosystem. Future research, combined with technological advances and international cooperation, should focus on establishing the intrinsic linkage of the geology, biology, and environment of the hadal trenches. Public summary: • This paper provides a comprehensive review on hadal geology, environment, and biology, as well as potential interactions among them • For the first time, we release high-definition images taken by a new full-ocean-depth manned submersible Fendouzhe • The hydration of the hadal lithosphere is a driving force that influences a variety of sedimentary, geochemical, and biological processes in the hadal trench • The development of deep-sea technology and international cooperation will greatly promote the progress of hadal science

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