Photic zone

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Pelagiczone

Photic zone

The photic zone, also known as the euphotic zone, is the uppermost layer of a body of water that receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. This zone is crucial for the survival of aquatic plants, phytoplankton, and other photosynthetic organisms.

Characteristics

The photic zone extends from the surface down to a depth where light intensity falls to 1% of the surface value. This depth can vary depending on the clarity of the water. In clear ocean waters, the photic zone can extend to depths of up to 200 meters, while in more turbid waters, it may be limited to just a few meters.

Importance

The photic zone is vital for the production of oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis. It supports a diverse range of marine life, including zooplankton, fish, and other organisms that rely on photosynthetic organisms for food.

Subzones

The photic zone is often divided into two subzones:

• The epipelagic zone, which extends from the surface to about 200 meters deep.
• The disphotic zone, which lies below the epipelagic zone and extends to the depth where light intensity is too low for photosynthesis, typically around 200 to 1,000 meters.

Related Concepts

• Aphotic zone: The layer of water below the photic zone where no sunlight penetrates.
• Thermocline: A layer in a body of water where the temperature gradient is greater than that of the warmer layer above and the colder layer below.
• Marine biology: The scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine bodies of water.
• Oceanography: The study of the physical and biological aspects of the ocean.

See Also

• Photosynthesis
• Phytoplankton
• Zooplankton
• Marine ecosystem
• Oceanic zone

External Links

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