THE DEEP OCEAN
Written by Kiyas Kousoulas
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October is the spookiest month of the year, which means it is only right that we talk about the spookiest place on earth, the deep ocean. The deep ocean is home to an incredible amount of beautiful and terrifying things. From interesting looking creatures, to haunted shipwrecks, and extreme geological structures, the deep ocean has it all. Only about 20% of the ocean has been explored, that means that there is so much more for us to learn and scientists are making new discoveries everyday.
Some of past discoveries include creatures like the goblin shark and the vampire squid. The goblin shark was discovered off the coast of Yokohama, Japan in 1898 and gets its name from how similar its appearance is to the goblins of Japanese folklore. Within the same year, the vampire squid was discovered by a zoologist who named it the vampire squid despite the fact the species is actually an octopus. Both of these creatures have squishy and soft bodies which allow them to live at incredibly low depths and high pressures.
Aside from ocean creatures, the deep ocean also has many shipwrecks hiding beneath the waves. The entire ocean floor is home to more than 3 million shipwrecks and some of them, like the S.S. Thistlegorm, are even rumored to be haunted. The S.S. Thistlegorm was a British ship that sank in the Red Sea during World War II. Since the S.S. Thistlegorm was a transportation ship, the wreckage has some interesting cargo including, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. Although the S.S. Thistlegorm isn’t located in what is considered the ‘deep ocean,’ it is still a very spooky place and some divers even claim to have seen ghosts swimming alongside them! Believe it or not, ghost sightings aren’t the only supernatural-like part of the ocean.
Intense geological phenomena are also a creepy addition to deep sea ocean life. Structures known as hydrothermal vents create alien-like ecosystems at the deepest depths of our oceans. Hydrothermal vents are openings in the ocean floor that push out water heated by the magma under the surface. The heated water produced by these vents is incredibly rich in minerals and provides the necessary nutrients to allow life to grow even in such extreme conditions. There is no sunlight, very cold water, and incredibly hot vents at these areas of the deep ocean, which means life shouldn’t be able to exist there. When scientists realized how much life was actually thriving in these environments, it completely changed the way we thought about life forms and how they can exist!
Unusual creatures, ancient shipwrecks, and geological masterpieces are just a few of the amazing things you can find in the world's oceans. These discoveries give us a deeper look into the world we live in and teach us new things everyday. No matter where you look in the deep ocean you are sure to find something interesting and possibly even a little spooky.
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SPOTLIGHT CAREER: DEEP SEA MARINE ENGINEER
Written by Madelyn Ruemping
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October is known for being the month of spookiness; the deep sea fits the bill for being spooky, for it is so dark and has some frightening looking creatures that live among the shadows. In honor of spooky season this month's spotlight career is deep sea marine engineering. A deep sea marine engineer designs, builds, and tests equipment that can operate within the deepest parts of the ocean using their knowledge of mechanical, electrical, civil, acoustical, and chemical engineering. These engineers need to consider the type of environment that makes up the deep sea, like the animals, the sea floor, and water pressure. The equipment they build needs to withstand all these things as well as do what they are intended to do. A main piece of equipment that deep sea marine engineers work on are submersibles. Submersibles are small watercrafts that are supported by a larger watercraft like a ship or in some cases a submarine. Some submersibles can hold passengers while others are remotely operated. They are usually used for oceanography, underwater archeology, and ocean exploration. Deep sea is only spooky because we don’t know much about it but with deep sea marine engineers, we are able to explore these parts of the ocean to grow our knowledge of the ocean and make it a little less scary.
Now knowing all of the different things a deep sea marine engineer needs to keep in mind while designing and building equipment, they need to have a lot of knowledge of engineering. In order to become a deep sea marine engineer, secondary education is the first place to start. A 4-year Bachelor's degree in engineering is the perfect path to take on the way to becoming a deep sea marine engineer. Some of the classes that are involved in obtaining the degree are calculus, physics, civil engineering and construction, and industrial engineering. Education can be furthered after these 4 years for more knowledge in engineering or the ocean by obtaining a Master's degree or a PhD in an area of ocean studies or of engineering. The skills learned through all this education are research and development, computer skills, and mathematics. If you love mathematics, discovering new things, building things, or the ocean, then a deep sea marine engineer may be the career for you.
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SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: FOOTBALL FISH
Written by Brennan Engel
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In the deepest, darkest regions of our oceans lives a plethora of monstrous creatures that seem to have spawned from an alien planet. By far one of the most nightmarish of maritime denizens lurking on the ocean floor is the football fish. Thriving at depths of more than three thousand feet below the surface, these fish stalk the abyssal darkness. Using bioluminescent lures, these creatures entice their hapless prey to a grizzly death like horrors of myth.
These well-adapted hunters are opportunistic ambush predators that lie in wait within rocks and plant life luring prey in with a bioluminescent stalk. These tiny-eyed dwellers of the deep will eat almost anything careless enough to swim too close. Once prey gets within the Anglerfish’s range, it violently shoots its mouth forward and presents a gaping trap up to two times its own size gulping down the helpless creature. The football fish’s teeth are angled backwards so that most escape attempts end with the animal impaling itself on these wicked teeth. Truly a haunting creature that is well suited for the dreary darkness of the deepest realms of the sea.
This species suffers from a case of extreme sexual dimorphism. The females can grow up to two feet long, while the males typically max out at 4 inches. The female football fish are the terrifying monsters people think about when talking about angler fish. However, the males are far less impressive and seem more like tiny parasites that latch onto females and siphon off the female’s hard-won nutrients. Their sole contribution to survival is fertilizing any eggs the female has. These monstrous fish with all their oddities and bizarre features are still deserving of a place on this world and need to be protected.
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Appreciation for Financial Support
Aeon for Ocean is excited to have received a $500 grant thanks to our local Eden Prairie Walmart location! We look forward to continued support from the community and grant partners. If you are interested in donating, please do so through our website or Facebook page.
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World Animal Day
On October 4th, we should celebrate all the animals on the planet, both in the oceans and on land. This year's theme is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.” It is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare. Learn more at here.
World Octopus Day
October 8th is a day to celebrate one of our oceans' unique creatures. They are highly intelligent animals with eight tentacles and squirt ink. They are also one of the earth's oldest creatures, and there are over 300 species! Take this day to recognize their place on the planet. Learn more here.
International Sawfish Day
We will celebrate Sawfish on October 17th. This day is meant to focus on the need for sawfish conservation and their importance in the world's oceans. Do your part to support these intriguing fish. Check out their website to learn more.
49th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
October 18th is the 49th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which was signed into action on October 18, 1972. The Clean Water Act is the primary U.S. federal law for addressing water pollution. Learn more on the EPA Website.
49th Anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
October 21st celebrates the 49th Anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which is meant to prohibit the taking (hunting, killing, capture, or harassment) of marine mammals. It was signed into law on October 21, 1972. The Marine Mammal Protection Act was the first of the U.S. Congress to call for an ecosystem approach to wildlife management. Learn more here.
International Freshwater Dolphin Day
Celebrate the freshwater dolphins on October 24th! While they are not ocean creatures, they are still very important aquatic creatures that need our protection and appreciation. Learn more about freshwater dolphins here.
Give to the Max Day
Give to the Max Day is coming up in November! Aeon for Ocean will be participating, and you can find us as well as other great organizations through their website closer to the event. We will share more info in the November Newsletter.
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Enjoy a special Halloween comic of our Mascots created by Illustrator Eve Feldman!
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OPPORTUNITIES AT AEON FOR OCEAN
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Are you interested in joining our team and helping to contribute to ocean conservation? We are currently looking to fill the following positions:
- Education Associate
- Graphic Designer
- Social Media Associate
More information can be found at VolunteerMatch.
Interested applicants can send their resume to hr@aeonforocean.org
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KRILL2WHALE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
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What is Krill2Whale?
Krill2Whale (K2W) is a program focused on educating kids about marine life and oceans so they can then share that information with other children in both casual and formal presentation settings. The goal is to spread awareness on the importance of the marine ecosystem and to increase involvement in activities to save our oceans.
How does K2W benefit kids?
Not only will new K2W Ambassadors join a group of inspiring kids, make new friends, and learn about marine life, but they will also learn valuable life skills like public speaking, leadership, and planning. The K2W Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to present a 30-45 minute interactive presentation at schools and libraries and help organize events for their communities.
How can my child join?
Head to aeonforocean.org/krill2whale for more information. If you'd like to join, click “Join me” in the “Become a K2W Ambassador” section and complete the form. If you have further questions about the program, please send an email to info@aeonforocean.org.
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