Question

Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench of the Pacific Ocean is the deepest known spot in the Earth's oceans, at 10.922 km below sea level. Taking density of seawater at atmospheric pressure (p0 = 101.3 kPa) to be 1024 kg/m3 and its bulk modulus to be B(p) = B0 + 6.67(p − p0), with B0 = 2.19 109 Pa, calculate the pressure and the density of the seawater at the bottom of Challenger Deep. Disregard variations in water temperature and salinity with depth.

Answer 1

Pressure at the bottom of Challenger Deep:

P = B0 + 6.67(p - p0) = 2.19 x 10^9 + 6.67(10.922 x 10^3 - 101.3) = 1.09 x 10^11 Pa

Density of seawater at the bottom of Challenger Deep:

Density = 1024 kg/m3