THE OCEANTHE OCEAN

Ocean Zones and the Ocean Ocean Zones and the Ocean FloorFloor

Text Book pages # 350 - 356Text Book pages # 350 - 356

The Ocean FloorThe Ocean FloorFor many years, nobody knew what was at For many years, nobody knew what was at

the bottom of the ocean’s floor. the bottom of the ocean’s floor.

Because of the Because of the darknessdarkness, , coldcold, and , and extreme pressureextreme pressure, scientists have had to , scientists have had to develop new technology to enable them develop new technology to enable them to study the deep ocean floor. to study the deep ocean 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)

SonarSonar – A device that determines the – A device that determines the distance of an object under water by distance of an object under water by recording echoes of sound waves.recording echoes of sound waves.

It creates a picture of the ocean’s floor It creates a picture of the ocean’s floor using the recorded sound waves. using the recorded sound waves.

The Ocean Floor The Ocean Floor Scientist now know that the ocean’s floor is Scientist now know that the ocean’s floor is

not flat. not flat.

Intertidal zone Intertidal zone – An area that – An area that stretches from the highest high-stretches from the highest high-tide line on land out to the point tide line on land out to the point on the continental shelf exposed on the continental shelf exposed by the lowest low-tideby the lowest low-tide. .

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal ZoneIntertidal zones can look Intertidal zones can look

like sandy beaches. like sandy beaches.

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.

The Intertidal Zone is over the The Intertidal Zone is over the beginning of the beginning of the Continental ShelfContinental Shelf

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

Continental Shelf

Continental Shelf extends in to Continental Shelf extends in to the the Neritic Zone.Neritic Zone.The Continental Shelf is also called the The Continental Shelf is also called the

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

Neritic Zone Neritic Zone of the ocean that of the ocean that extends from the low-tide line out to the extends from the low-tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf.edge of the continental shelf.

The The shallow water over the shallow water over the continental shelf receives continental shelf receives sunlight sunlight and a steady supply and a steady supply of nutrients washed from of nutrients washed from the land into the ocean. the land into the ocean.

The Continental Shelf The Continental Shelf The The Continental Shelf is home to the coral reefContinental Shelf is home to the coral reef. .

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

The Continental SlopeThe Continental SlopeThis is This is where the Neritic Zone endswhere the Neritic Zone ends. .

The dropoff or slope The dropoff or slope at the end of a at the end of a continental shelf.continental shelf.

continental shelf

The Abyssal Plain The Abyssal Plain - The smooth, - The smooth, nearly flat region of the deep nearly flat region of the deep ocean floor. ocean floor.

Abyssal Plain

The Abyssal Plain: Open OceanThe Abyssal Plain: Open Ocean

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: Abyssal Plain: The Surface The Surface ZoneZoneThe The only part of the ocean that receives enough only part of the ocean that receives enough

sunlight to support the growth of algaesunlight to support the growth of algae. .

Open Ocean - Open Ocean - The Deep ZoneThe Deep Zone

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, wet Few organisms live in this cold, dark, wet placeplace. .

Open Ocean – Open Ocean – Mid Ocean Mid Ocean Ridge Ridge

 Longest mountain range in the world in the Longest mountain range in the world in the middle of ocean floormiddle of ocean floor

Mid-ocean ridges of Mid-ocean ridges of the world are connected the world are connected and form a single global and form a single global mid-oceanic ridge mid-oceanic ridge system that is part system that is part of every ocean.of every ocean.

Deep Zone LifeDeep Zone Life

Deep Zone LifeDeep Zone Life

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

Remember!Remember!

Intertidal Neritic Open Intertidal Neritic Open OceanOcean

Shore(high to low tide) Continental

ShelfContin

enta

l Slo

pe Abyssal Plain