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Science Tutorials
A Primer on the Earth’s Oceans
Basic Earth Science
The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface. Still, we don’t know much about the deepest parts of the ocean. We know much more about mars…
Ocean Zones
Ocean zones are distinct layers that transform as you descend from the surface to the seafloor.
Sunlight Zone
The sunlight zone (epipelagic) extends from the surface to about 200 meters deep. (Use google to calculate the meters to miles, I’m not explaining it.) This is the ocean most humans know, where sunlight powers coral cities teeming with colorful fish and marine mammals.
Twilight Zone
Not the book with the sparkling fairies pretending to be something they are not, The Twilight zone (mesopelagic) from 200 -1,000 meters deep is where everything changes. Sunlight fades to a ghostly blue glow before disappearing. Here, bizarre creatures roam and have their own light shows. Fish dangle glowing lures to trap prey, while others flash like underwater fireflies to communicate.
