Assignment 3

Essay Assignment 3 Answer the following two questions in a short, coherent, well-written paragraph. Use reference materials; please cite them with a URL or proper MLA or APA bibliographic citation. Why is the ocean layered? Explain the PHYSICAL CAUSES, and describe the major layers in the ocean. NOTE: In your research you may find the Hadalpeligic Zone. Hadal means Hades, why would the conditions here be "Hell-like"? The result of influence of temperature and salinity on sea water density is why | think the ocean is layered. Basically the warm, low density water at surface and cold, high density water at depth. Scientists have divided the ocean into five main layers. Epipelagic Zone - The surface layer of the ocean is known as the epipelagic zone and extends from the surface to 200 meters. It is also known as the sunlight zone because this is where most of visible light exists. The heat is responsible for the wide range of temperatures that occur in this zone. Mesopelagic Zone - It extends from 200meters to 1000meters. The mesopelagic zone is sometimes referred to as the twilight zone.A great diversity of strange and bizarre fishes can be found here. Bathypelagic Zone - It is sometimes referred to as the midnight zone. This zone extends from 1000 meters down to 4000meters. Here the only visible light is that produced by the creatures themselves. Abyss pelagic Zone - It is also known as the abyssal zone and extends from 4000meters to 6000 meters. The water temperature is near freezing, and there is no light at all. Very few creatures can be found at these crushing depths. Hadalpelagic Zone - This layer extends from 6000meters to bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean. The temperature of the water is just above freezing, and the pressure is an incredible eight tons per square inch. The lack of light and intense pressure creates hostile living conditions, and few species are adapted to these, therefore it is called as hell-like conditions. References Sea and Sky > The Sea > Deep Sea Creatures > Layers of the Ocean in seasky.org.Retrieved November 10, 2009 from seasky.org <http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/ocean-layers.html>