| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (27 min. 36 sec.) ; 166950978 bytes |
| Summary |
An historic Spanish voyage; mining undersea volcanoes; the latest in diving gear; deep sea diners; the deepest location on earth the Mariana Trench.DEEP SEA MININGMost volcanic activity happens not on land, but kilometres underwater in the deep ocean. Geological research has revealed that underwater volcanoes or hydrothermal vents are rich in metals like copper, zinc, silver and gold at concentrations that make them commercially attractive to miners. But, they are also colonised by exotic life forms and scientists believe the vents may have been the location where life originated. Mark Horstman investigates a mine that is set to commence operations in the deep waters off Papua New Guinea.VOYAGE OF THE MALASPINATwo Spanish Navy vessels, the Hesperides and Sarmiento de Gamboa are circumnavigating the world with 250 scientists and researchers, sailing to assess the effects of climate change on the oceans of the world and exploring the biodiversity of the deep oceans. The voyage is to honour the Alexandro Malaspina, which more than 2oo years ago took a 5-year voyage of scientific significance. Graham Phillips recently joined the crew and scientists aboard the Hesperides on its leg between Sydney and Auckland.REBREATHERSIn 1943, French diving legend, Jacques Cousteau first gave us the key to experiencing the magic of our underwater world with his amazing aqua lung. Since then, our ability to breathe underwater has come a long way thanks to huge advances in mixed gas diving and rebreather technology. Jonica Newby takes the plunge with the Navy to discover how key 'game changers' in the field of rebreathers have not only enabled divers to undertake delicate military operations without detection but are now also benefitting recreational divers in surprising ways.DEEP SEA DINERSResearchers have sent bait and an infrared camera to the depths of the ocean to study how deep sea diners find their dinner in the darkness. A rarely observed six gill shark is recorded for the first time at such a depth and a jumbo Humboldt Squid attacks the free meal with relish.THE MARIANA TRENCHThe Challenger Deep is the deepest part of the deepest known ocean trench, the Mariana Trench which is two kilometres deeper than Everest is high. The only humans ever to have reached the bottom of the world were Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in the deep diving vessel the Trieste, way back in 1960. 50 years on and no-one has dared to emulate their heroic feat |
| Event |
Broadcast 2011-06-09 at 20:00:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Hesperides (Research ship)
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Ocean mining -- Economic aspects.
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Ocean mining -- Environmental aspects.
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Oceanographic research ships.
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Scuba diving -- Safety measures.
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Underwater breathing apparatus.
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Papua New Guinea.
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Spain.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Alcaraz, Miquel, contributor
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Duarte, Carlos, contributor
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Haynes, Paul, contributor
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Newby, Jonica, reporter
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Patterson, Lane, contributor
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Perez, Laura Morales, contributor
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Phillips, Graham, host
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Rebok, Sandra, contributor
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Royer, Sarah-Jeanne, contributor
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Van Dover, Cindy Lee, contributor
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Yeats, Chris, contributor
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