Laurentian Fan
TheLaurentian FanorLaurentian Abyssis an underwater depression off the eastern coast ofCanadain theAtlantic Ocean.[1]
Location and origin
[edit]Not a trench, but more of an "underwater valley", it is estimated to be at most ~19,685 feet (3.7 miles; 6.0 km) in depth. The Laurentian Fan is a product of glaciation and water currents from theGulf of Saint Lawrence.[2]It is part of the Laurentian cone region, bound by theLaurentian Channeland theSohm Abyssal Plain.The approximate coordinates are43°40′N56°10′W/ 43.667°N 56.167°W.
Ecosystem
[edit]Towards the end of the 1980s, it was discovered unexpectedly that the fan is the site ofhydrothermal ventswith their ownecosystemsfunctioning in the absence of sunlight. These supported organisms such asvesicomyidandthyasiridclams,as well as marinegastropodsand otherepifaunasimilar to those found in hydrothermal andcold seepenvironments elsewhere.[3]
Popular culture
[edit]The Laurentian Fan plays a geographic role in the plotline of the 1990 filmThe Hunt for Red October.It also appears at the end of the 2007 filmTransformers,with the United States government depicted dumping the remains ofMegatron,the other defeatedDecepticons,and the deceasedAutobotJazzinto the fan, in hopes that the crushing depths and low temperature will destroy the remains.[citation needed]The fan later reappears in the film's 2009 sequelTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen,where the Decepticons revive Megatron.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Notes
- ^Piper, D.J.W.; Stow, D.A.V.; Normark, W.R. (1985)."Laurentian Fan, Atlantic Ocean".In Bouma, A.H.; Normark, W.R.; Barnes, N.E. (eds.).Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems.Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology. New York: Springer. pp. 137–142.doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-5114-9_20.ISBN9781461295709.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022.
- ^Information gathered via a phone interview with Dr. Norm Catto of Memorial University - August 15, 2008
- ^Mayer, L.A.; Shor, A.N.; Hughes Clarke, J.; Piper, D.J.W. (1988)."Dense biological communities at 3850m on the Laurentian Fan and their relationship to the deposits of the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake".Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers.35(8). Elsevier: 1235–1246.doi:10.1016/0198-0149(88)90079-9.ISSN0198-0149.RetrievedSeptember 15,2022– viaAcademia.edu.
External links
[edit]- "Laurentian Fan".Geographical Names Data Base.Natural Resources Canada.Retrieved2021-06-05.
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