Layers Of The Ocean

1. Epipelagic Zone

2. Continental Shelf

3. Mesopelagic Zone

4. Bathypelagic Zone

5. Continental Slope

6. Abyssopelagic Zone

7. Continental Rise

8. Ocean Basin

9. Hadalpelagic Zone QuizVide

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Epipelagic Zone (The Sunlight Zone)

•0-600 feet

•Very warm water because that is where the sun hits the surface

•Allows enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. Includes a wide variety of ocean plants.

•Most marine that lives in the ocean live in this layer.

Continental Shelf•A submerged border of a continent

•Has a gradual slope. Depths up to 200 meters.

•It extends to a deeper part of the ocean, going into another layer.

Mesopelagic Zone (The Twilight Zone)

•600-3,300 feet

•Not as much light is let through as the sunlight zone, temperatures of 40 degrees.

•most organisms migrate to the surface to feed at night or live off the falling debris from the Epipelagic ecosystem.

•bioluminescent creatures that use chemicals in their bodies to produce light.

Bathypelagic Zone (The Midnight Zone)

•3281-13, 124 feet

•Cold temperatures due to lack of light. Around 4 degrees Celsius.

•No light penetration what so ever. Only light that can be found is the light produced by creatures such as angler fish.

•Even though there is barely any light, there are large amount of creatures found in this zone.

Continental Slope•The region between a continental shelf and a continental rise

•Usually 12.4 miles wide. Descends into other zones all the way to the ocean floor.

•Consists of mud and silt (a cross between sand and clay)

Abyssopelagic Zone (The Abyss)

•3, 281-13, 124- feet

•Abyssopelagic translates to “no bottom”.

•Water temperature is near freezing.

•Very few creatures are found in this layer. Any that exist are invertebrates such as basket stars and tiny squids

•The ocean floor makes up ¾ of this layer.

Continental Rise•A wide gentle incline from the ocean bottom to a continental slope.

•Made up of mostly mud, silt, and sand.

•Can be hundreds of miles wide and has a smooth surface.

Ocean Basin•Large geological basins placed below sea water.

•Can be active and change size, can be inactive and remain as is.

•They change size depending on if they are located on a moving plate.

Hadalpelagic Zone (The Trenches)

•19, 686-to the bottom deepest parts of the ocean that are immeasurable.

•Mostly found in deep trenches or canyons.

•Temperature is just above freezing and pressure is overwhelming.

•Small, and not many, invertebrates can be found here.

QuizWhich of the following sea creatures would live

in the Epipelagic zone?

Video