Packet 3: Tossup 5

The diversity of this region was discovered by Hessler and Sanders in 1967, who subsequently developed the stability-time hypothesis to explain it. Material in this region is often dated by its relatively high thorium-230 concentration. A mass extinction in this region occurred 55 million years ago during the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum. (10[1])Movement of material into this region (10[1]-5[1])is characterized by the Martin curve. Parts of this region (10[1])are abundant in polymetallic nodules, (10[1])leading (10[1])to highly-controversial (10[2])mining practices. (10[5])Temperature on geologic time scales (10[1])is estimated (10[1])using measurements from foraminifera tests from this region. This subregion (10[1])is the largest natural carbon sink. (-5[1])Nutrients enter this region via the biological pump in the form (10[1])of “marine snow.” (-5[1])For 10 (10[1])points, name this cold, high-pressure aquatic region. ■END■ (10[3]0[1])

ANSWER: deep ocean [or deep sea; accept ocean floor or seafloor or seabed; accept benthic zone or demersal zone or abyssal zone; prompt on sea or ocean by asking “which part?”; reject answers containing “surface”]
<Cambridge, Other Science> | C. Prelims 3 - Cambridge + UCLA + Stanford B + Virginia
= Average correct buzzpoint

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