The photic zone of the ocean is also known as the sunlight layer. It is the region in which phyto- plankton live and can undergo photosynthesis. The depth of the photic zone varies depending on how murky the water is — “murkiness” is caused by, for example, tiny particles of sediment that absorb light. The aphotic zone is defined as being the depth beyond which more than 99% of the light from the surface has already been absorbed. The bioluminescence photon emission curve plotted at the start of this question is for an idealised experiment carried out in a laboratory. The measurement is performed using a light detector in a dark fish tank filled with clear water. Would you expect the observed R(t) to change if the measurement was instead performed in situ in the ocean during the daytime (i) in the photic zone in clear water, and (ii) in the aphotic zone in murky water? Explain your answers.
The photic zone of the ocean is also known as the sunlight layer. It is the region in which phyto- plankton live and can undergo photosynthesis. The depth of the photic zone varies depending on how murky the water is — “murkiness” is caused by, for example, tiny particles of sediment that absorb light. The aphotic zone is defined as being the depth beyond which more than 99% of the light from the surface has already been absorbed.
The bioluminescence photon emission curve plotted at the start of this question is for an idealised experiment carried out in a laboratory. The measurement is performed using a light detector in a dark fish tank filled with clear water. Would you expect the observed R(t) to change if the measurement was instead performed in situ in the ocean during the daytime (i) in the photic zone in clear water, and (ii) in the aphotic zone in murky water? Explain your answers.
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
