Beneath 20,000 Feet

At depths of nearly 20,000 feet, the abyssal plains cover nearly 70% of the ocean floor, making them the largest habitat on Earth—and one of the least understood. Join Dr. Kira Mizell as she explores the geology and minerals of the deep sea, their associated ecosystems, and the knowledge gaps that remain about these remote seafloor environments. Learn how USGS research, paired with local and international partnerships, are helping to fill these gaps and establish multi-disciplinary baseline data