The open ocean (5.1)

Cards about the zones, the importance of the ocean

Epipelagic zone

• first zone of the ocean and ranges from the surface - 200m

• This is the zone with the most abundant productivity due to the high levels of light and nutrients

Mesopelagic zone

• is below the epipelagic zone and ranges from 200m - 1000m

• There is enough lights for organisms to see each other, but not enough to make photosynthesis

• Due to the low levels of Organisms, organisms use nitrates instead of oxygen to respire

Bathypelagic zone

• this zone ranges from 1000m - 4000m

• Organisms survive be eating detritus (waste) and marine snow

Abyssopelagic zone

• this zone ranges from 4000m - almost the bottom

• Organisms here are blind and or colorless

• There is a never ending darkness

• Freezing temperatures

Benthic zone

• Sea floor and area above it

• Organisms found here are called “benthos”

• Zone is always in complete darkness in the open ocean

• Benthinc zone means bottom of the body of water (depending on the body of water, this zone may receive sunlight)

What are carbon sinks used for?

1. Used for photosynthesis (makes glucose)

2. Carbon makes shells and skeletons

3. Makes carbonic acid

Carbon sink definition

• a natural environment that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere faster then it releases it

  (EX: the world ocean is a carbon sink for our planet)

How can the ocean be a temperature buffer?

Since water has a high specific heat capacity…

1. it’s resistant to temperature changes

2. Can store heat energy

3. Can transfer heat from sea to atmosphere

How can the ocean be used as a global climate control?

• The temperature of the overall earth rises slower due to the high heat capacity of water

• The ocean absorbs and stores excess heat energy

How is the ocean a source of oxygen?

• since the ocean has photosynthic organisms, the oxygen created by those organisms is later released into the ocean and atmosphere

photosynthesic organism

• organisms that are capable of making their own food or preforming photosynthesis

What is the formula for photosynthesis?

Sunlight + water + carbon dioxide = oxygen + glucose

Sunlight + H2O + Co2 = O2 + C6H12O6