THE OCEANTHE OCEAN

Ocean Zones and the Ocean Ocean Zones and the Ocean FloorFloor

The Ocean FloorThe Ocean Floor

For many years, nobody knew what For many years, nobody knew what was at the bottom of the ocean’s was at the bottom of the ocean’s floor. floor.

Because of the darkness, cold, and Because of the darkness, cold, and extreme pressure, scientists have extreme pressure, scientists have had to develop new technology to had to develop new technology to enable them to study the deep ocean enable them to study the deep ocean floor. floor.

Scientists discovered the best way of Scientists discovered the best way of mapping the ocean’s floor was to use mapping the ocean’s floor was to use Sonar (Sonar (SoSound und NaNavigation and vigation and RRanging)anging)

Sonar uses sound waves to create a Sonar uses sound waves to create a picture of the ocean’s floor. picture of the ocean’s floor.

Remember!Remember!

Intertidal Neritic Open Intertidal Neritic Open OceanOcean

Shore (high to low tide) Continental

ShelfContin

enta

l Slo

pe Abyssal Plain

The Ocean FloorThe Ocean FloorScientist now know that the ocean’s Scientist now know that the ocean’s

floor is not flat. floor is not flat.

Intertidal zoneIntertidal zoneIncludes highest line of tide to the lowest Includes highest line of tide to the lowest

line of tide line of tide (the highest the water ever (the highest the water ever rises to the lowest the water ever rises)rises to the lowest the water ever rises)

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone

Intertidal zones can look like sandy Intertidal zones can look like sandy beaches: beaches:

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone

Or rocky shores:Or rocky shores:

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone

Organisms that live in the rocky intertidal zone must be able to tolerate the pounding waves and changes in salinity (saltiness) and temperature.

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone

They must also withstand periods of They must also withstand periods of being underwater and periods of being underwater and periods of being exposed to the air. being exposed to the air.

Continental ShelfContinental Shelf

A A gently sloping, shallow area of the gently sloping, shallow area of the ocean floor that extends outward ocean floor that extends outward from the edge of a continentfrom the edge of a continent. .

Continental Shelf: Neritic Continental Shelf: Neritic ZoneZoneThe The Continental Shelf is also called the Continental Shelf is also called the

Neritic ZoneNeritic Zone. The Neritic Zone is full . The Neritic Zone is full of life!of life!

Continental Shelf: Neritic Continental Shelf: Neritic ZoneZoneThe shallow water over the continental The shallow water over the continental

shelf receives sunlight and a steady shelf receives sunlight and a steady supply of nutrients washed from the supply of nutrients washed from the land into the ocean. land into the ocean.

The Continental Shelf The Continental Shelf The The Continental Shelf is home to the Continental Shelf is home to the

coral reefcoral reef. .

Many animals live around coral reefs Many animals live around coral reefs and this is a popular place for people and this is a popular place for people to scuba dive. to scuba dive.

The Continental SlopeThe Continental SlopeThe drop or slope The drop or slope at the end of a at the end of a

continental shelfcontinental shelf is called the is called the continental slope. continental slope.

This is This is where the Neritic Zone endswhere the Neritic Zone ends. .

The Abyssal PlainThe Abyssal Plain

The smooth, nearly flat region of the The smooth, nearly flat region of the ocean floorocean floor. .

The Abyssal Plain: Open The Abyssal Plain: Open OceanOcean

The The Abyssal Plain is also known as the Abyssal Plain is also known as the Open OceanOpen Ocean..

The Open Ocean is divided into two The Open Ocean is divided into two levels:levels:

A. A. The Surface ZoneThe Surface Zone

B. B. The Deep ZoneThe Deep Zone

Abyssal Plain: The Surface Abyssal Plain: The Surface ZoneZone

The The only part of the ocean that only part of the ocean that receives enough sunlight to support receives enough sunlight to support the growth of algaethe growth of algae. .

The Abyssal Plain: The Deep The Abyssal Plain: The Deep OceanOcean

The The deep regions of the ocean where deep regions of the ocean where sunlight cannot reachsunlight cannot reach..

Often compared to a desert due to its Often compared to a desert due to its harsh conditions.harsh conditions.

Few organisms live in this cold, dark, Few organisms live in this cold, dark, wet placewet place. .

Deep Zone LifeDeep Zone Life

Deep Zone LifeDeep Zone Life

Organisms often Organisms often create their create their own light. This own light. This is known as is known as bioluminescenbioluminescencece..