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Oceans
Name: _____________________________
Study Guide Part #3
Ocean Zones & Exploration
Quiz is on: __________________________
SOLs
5.6 The student will investigate and understand characteristics of the ocean environment.
1. What does scuba stand for? What is scuba equipment used for?
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Humans use scuba equipment to explore the oceans.
2. Define submersible:
-underwater vehicles
*submersibles can go deeper underwater than humans with scuba equipment.
3. How are satellites and sonar used?
Satellites and sonar are used to study ocean currents, salt content, temperature,
wave heights, and ocean life. They can also map the ocean floor.
4. What are some important ocean resources?
-plants, animals, minerals, gas, oil, water
5. The ocean can be divided into ___3___ zones based on the amount of light received.
6. The ___sunlit___ zone is the top layer, nearest the surface. Describe this zone.
-also called the euphotic zone
-there is enough light penetrating the water to support photosynthesis
-more than 90% of all marine life lives in the sunlit zone
-it goes down about 600 feet
-most fish and plankton lives in this zone
Sunlit Zone
7. The __twilight__ zone is the middle layer. Describe this zone.
-also known as the disphotic zone
-only a small amount of light can penetrate the water at this depth
-as the depth increases, the water pressure increases
-plants do not grow here
-only animals that have adapted to the little light survive (lantern fish, viperfish,
mid-water jellyfish)
-some squid & fish in this zone make their own light (bioluminescence)
-this zone begins about 600 feet under water and extends to about 3,000 feet
Twilight Zone
8. The ___midnight___ zone is the bottom layer. Describe this zone.
-also known as the aphotic zone
-90% of the ocean is in the midnight zone
-it is entirely dark (there is no light)
-the water pressure is extreme
-the temperature is near freezing
-living things found here often live in the cracks of the Earth’s crust (angler
fish, sea cucumber, snipe eel, vampire squid, etc.)
-special forms of bacteria live here
Midnight Zone