Scientists and explorers are inspired to continue to study the ocean environment because so much of it is unknown. What we do know is that water and oxygen are the most important elements for human survival. Scientists estimate that 50 to 80 percent of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this oxygen production is from ocean plankton. Through farther and deeper ocean research, we find new species of marine life and minerals that can be used to sustain human life.
The most challenging factor when exploring the deepest parts of the oceans is the remoteness and isolation. The deepest parts of the ocean cannot be constantly studied, mainly because it has to be accessed by a ship with diminishing supplies and limited capabilities. Because of this, the cost, time and effort are very expensive.
Another factor is that the deepest depths of the oceans must be explored with specially-designed robotic equipment. Everything in the deep ocean is under a great deal of pressure. At any depth in the ocean, the weight of the water above pushes on any object below it. With every foot a person or object descends into the ocean, more water is pushing down and against it, causing more pressure to be exerted upon that object or person. This limits the depths that a diver can go down to explore.
