![]() Mostly single-celled creatures, the phytoplankton play a supporting role in Earth's climate by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The ocean remains one of the most mysterious places on our tiny blue planet, but breakdowns such as this help provide better insight into its awe-inspiring wonder.Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that reside near the ocean's surface, where they soak up the sunshine. While there is crossover between the three and five layers concepts, particularly within the first two layers, this article has examined the unique characteristics of each zone. Regardless, expert oceanographers have managed to divide it up into various layers. The ocean is a vast expanse of water that covers more of the Earth’s surface than land. The abyssobrotula galatheae-a species of eel-was discovered at 8,372 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench in 1970. The pressure is so intense that it equates to the approximate weight of 48 Boeing 747 jets. An example of such a marvel is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, which marks the deepest location on Earth at 11,034 meters, a depth so deep that Mount Everest would be completely submerged if placed at the bottom. It extends past the abyssopelagic zone in parts of the world where that is physically possible this is usually in the form of deep sea trenches and canyons. The trenches (hadalpelagic zone) is the deepest part of the ocean. There is a startling lack of life in the abyssopelagic zone only a select few creatures can survive the immense pressure, such as invertebrates. The water temperature never rises above near freezing. It extends from 4,000 meters down to 6,000, which for some global regions marks the seafloor. Its name comes from the Greek word abyss which means “no bottom.” True to its name, there was a time when the ancients believed that the ocean was a bottomless void. The abyss (abyssopelagic zone) is the middle layer of the deep ocean. In fact, being fifteen times the size of the epipelagic zone, the bathypelagic is generally regarded as the world’s largest ecosystem. However, there are a few sea creatures who swim this far down to feed, such as sperm whales. Some go for days living in complete darkness. As mentioned earlier, the only light in this regions does not come from the sun, but from bioluminescent animals who use their ability to hunt or find a mate. The temperature rarely changes, remaining at a fairly consistent 39 degrees Fahrenheit. It extends downward from 1,000 meters to 4,000-roughly the average depth of the global ocean. The midnight zone is also known as the bathypelagic zone makes up the first third of the deep ocean in the three layers model. This is in part due to the thermocline, a transitional region where warmer water decreases rapidly. Temperature changes here are the most extreme. The mesopelagic zone is also where experts have first noted the existence of bioluminescent creatures. Unlike the surface zone, this second layer has remained relatively untouched from commercial fishing despite the fact that it is bursting with aquatic life. The twilight zone actually plays a large role in regulating our planet the ocean absorbs roughly 25% of the carbon dioxide humans emit and pushes it down to the deep ocean, preventing it from rereleasing into the atmosphere. It is generally a very dim region, but it does receive a sliver of sunlight at the midday point which is enough for photosynthesis to occur. ![]() ![]() The twilight zone or the mesopelagic zone begins at 200 meters and extends downward to 1,000 meters, making up approximately 20% percent of the ocean’s total depth. The surface zone is where the majority of commercial fishing takes place and is home to many kinds of animals, including whales, dolphins, and sharks, many of whom frequently break the ocean’s surface. Depending on location, the temperature of the epipelagic zone can go as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit or drop as far 28 degrees.Enough sunlight penetrates this layer for algae to utilize photosynthesis, which in turn creates roughly 50% of the oxygen in our atmosphere. An abundance of natural light also generates heat, which penetrates deeper waters due to the movement of the wind. It is also regarded as the warmest layer. At midday, it is practically fully lit by the sun, hence called the sunlight zone. Aptly named for its position at the surface level, this sunlight zone, also called the surface zone or epipelagic zone, extends downward 200 meters or roughly 5% of the ocean’s average depth.
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