Divers explore depths of the Arctic to study sharks and glow-in-the-dark species

In the depths of the ocean, between 60 and 150 metres below the surface, lies a vast and mysterious zone that has so far remained mostly unexplored by scientists – a so-called "Twilight Zone".

Working hand in hand with a team of experienced divers, researchers from around the world will now get a chance to study the elusive ecosystems that populate it, over the course of a three-year expedition known as Under The Pole II

Led by two passionate divers and explorers, Ghislain Bardout and Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout, the expedition is driven by a desire to improve current knowledge of the planet's oceans and of the species that lurk in their depths.

The team is used to diving in extreme conditions, deep down in the freezing waters of the Arctic and Antarctic. With the help of innovative diving technologies, they aim to push back the boundaries of underwater exploration to advance scientific knowledge.

One of the innovations they hope to test in the coming months is a small "living capsule" – a kind of underwater shelter that will allow divers to rest during a dive and to spend more time investigating the ecosystems of the Twilight Zone.

From May 2017 to the end of 2020, Bardout, Périé-Bardout and their colleagues will take scientists aboard their boat to travel around the world, from the North Pole to the South Pole, to answer crucial scientific questions and to uncover hidden ecosystems.

The secrets of bioluminescent species

Throughout their journey in some of the world's most remote seas, one of the most exciting projects that divers and scientists will undertake will be to investigate two intriguing phenomenon – the bioluminescence and natural fluorescence of marine species.

Bioluminescence is a chemical process that involves the production and emission of light by a living organism. In contrast, natural fluorescence is a a physical process, which happens when an organism naturally emits light, after it has absorbed light.

Whether on land or in water, many animals appear to produce light or to become fluorescent under certain conditions. Some, like the glow-worm, have been well studied, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Very little is known about most of species, especially those living in the oceans. Exploring the Twilight Zone, especially in the Arctic, could potentially lead to the discovery of new, previously unseen species. SOURCEhttp://www.ibtimes.co.uk/under-pole-divers-explore-depths-arctic-study-sharks-glow-dark-species-1622099