Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-03-23
some Recon. Dl.e0verIs. II oesanouraphy

Some Recent Discoveries IN Ocoanooraphy.
The superficial area Of the sea is two
and a half times larger than that OF the
earth, while its mass or volume Is enor-
nous. Surprising that the basin holding
the seas had been emptied at the same
time wnen Christ was born, and assum-
ing that some enormous river had been
allowed TO run into II at the rate Of 1923
cubic yards per minute, the basin would
still be empty as IL would require a
total period OF 600 years more before
the seas would attain their present level.
AS may well be conceived, such a body
OF water must conceal many extraoriin-
airy things-but this IL a possibility ,whica
has attracted attention only within COM
paratively recent times The study Of
the earth itself has been attended with
lesser difficulties, but we are now so
familiar with our globe that its contin-
ents and islands are beginning to pail
upon the curious mind. so that more at
tention is being given gradually to the
ocean.
Two Of the most prominent oceanog-
raphers OF modern times are the Prince
OF Monaco and M. ]. Thoulet In 1899,
the geographical congress. when met
at Berlin, appointed a committee to pre-
pare and publish bathymetric map.
As the necessary funds were not avail
able the Prince OF Monaco generously
came forward and offered to take all the
expenses upon himself.
This valuable map has Just been pub
lished II clearly shows the actual state
OF our knowledge regarding ocean depths
and the outline or profile of submarine
lands, all the data being based upon
soundings taken by photographers and
oceanographers OF all nations II also
indicates the composition Of submarine
soils.
So far but little Is known about the
bed Of the ocean, but few broad features
may easily be picked, so that after a
study OF the map II is not difficult to
translate the different shadings OF color
into differences OF altitude, etc, the
student will then promptly discover that
/ there are very many features OF resem-
blance between the earth above and that
below the bosom OF the Vastly deep. In
fact. one is practically a replica OF the
other. both possessing hills. plains. noun
| tain peaks valleys, ravines, etc. The
/ Atlantic ocean. for instance, covers two
vast valleys; one of these passes between
the Cape Verde islands and the Azores.
and is OF great depth. II runs close TO
| Europe and comes to an end close to the
] British islands. where a ridge or crest
OF land separates 1t from the basin OF the
North sea. The other valley runs in the
main parallel with the first, from which
l Il is separated by an elongated strip OF
land OF which the Azores form a super
marine continuation. This strip does not
I exceed depth OF $3.50 feet, while its
height amounts TO $500 feet. The first
valley. like its confrere is also very deep
its bottom being situated at depth OF
nearly, four miles below the surface
Passing along South America, and leav-
ing the Bermudas TO the left, II passes
I along Newfoundland and Labrador fin
/ ally ending just south OF Greenland The
I sub Atlantic landscape thus consists OF
I two vast parallel valleys separated from
. each other by a range OF mountains
Further north the land lies higher and
the sea Is. relatively speaking shallow
Between Greenland and the continent
close to Iceland and the Channel Islands
there is a hugh plain free from any de-
pressions worthy OF mention. 1t is quite
clear that at one time England was con-
nected to the continent
The greatest ocean depths, however
are not found In the Atlantic. as ther'
are veritable abysses to be met with OF
the other side OF the globe. Close 4
New Zealand the water attains a deptl
OF FIVE and a half miles In the Kermadet
and Tonga ravines, which in themselves
attain a height OF 1880 feet, while the,
are separated from each other by chair
OF mountains OF $3.50 feet height. Ther'
is also the Aleutian ravine. which reaches
depth Of $4,000 feet. Mostly. sub
aqueous scenery is monotonous. there arr
no abrupt declivities or precipices. ex
cepting in the vicinity OF the coasts o
near islands Of volcanic formation. every
thing being rounded on and smootheC
down by the action Of the water. Clos
to the land there is somewhat more vari
ETY.. The European plateau. for instance
slopes gradually away down into tho
depths, and n fair view can be obtaines
there. provided maximum depth Of 1S0'
feet be not exceeded At first. abundan
vegetation and animal life are met with
but below the depth mentioned the seem
changes; first, the light grows dimme
the lower does the Thermometer fall. ex
cept In the case OF the Mediterranean
where the temperature is. relativel,
speaking, high as this sea is containe'
in what Is practically a closed basin.
Cold, darkness and monotony-such ar
the characteristic features OF the oceai
bed. The composition OF the floor itsel
Is the only thing that changes, thougl
this is only the case close to the coast
as no alteration Tor very little) seems I
occur at great depths Investigation
made with drags. dredgers. sounding ap
paratus, and the like, have shown tina
II is an error to assume that the bed o
the ocean is covered with sand, as TIL
latter is essentially coast formation oni
found in comparatively shallow watei
close to the shore. Mud begins to tax
its place the further we go afield-mut
or rather. ooze. It's origin varies con
siderably; a part consists Of the alluvis
deposits brought down by rivers Thl
ooze is OF various kinds Blue ooze
found close to schistous coasts, and II
hue is impaired to 1t by organic sub
stances and iron pyrites; II covers tn