ScienceStruck…, The region closest to the sediment of a water body is known as its benthic zone. Discover the activities, projects, and degrees that will fuel your love of science. We know very little about these deep, dark corners of the world’s oceans. Even the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stresses on the fact that 95 percent of the ocean is yet to be explored. The bathypelagic is much larger than the mesopelagic and 15 times the size of the epipelagic. The ocean's midnight zone is a region between one and four kilometres deep, where no sunlight at all penetrates the frigid water. The twilight zone or the mesopelagic zone begins at 200 meters and extends downward to 1,000 meters, making up approximately 20% percent of the ocean’s total depth. Temperatures in high latitudes range from about 3° to -1° C (37° to 30° F). 2. An example of such a marvel is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, which marks the deepest location on Earth at 11,034 meters, a depth so deep that Mount Everest would be completely submerged if placed at the bottom. Well, that is not the only interesting thing about this zone though. With their hinged jaws, sharp protruding teeth, large eyes, and water-filled bodies, the fish found in this region may look ugly, but one needs to understand that these are the physical adaptations that help them survive in the harsh environment of the aphotic zone. Examples of these creatures include certain types of plankton, jellyfish, squid, and the nightmarish barbeled dragonfish. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Measuring about 361.9 million square kilometers, it is a massive continuous body of salt water, so large in fact that oceanographers estimate that less than 20% has been explored. Night blooming Cereus flowers in July to October. How Serling Avoided Censorship With Social and Political Content. The ocean is generally divided into three named zones: the photic (or epipelagic), twilight (or mesopelagic), and midnight (bathypelagic) zones. What kinds of animals live there? Aphotic Zone A.K.A. There are more of such interesting facts about the aphotic zone, also known as the ‘midnight zone’, that are bound to leave you surprised. Interesting and Enthralling Facts About the Neritic Zone, Interesting Facts About the Benthic Zone That are Beyond Awesome, Interesting Facts About the Abyssal Zone That'll Startle You. The Abyssal Zone, also known as the Abyssopelagic Zone or simply, the Abyss―derived from the Greek word, meaning bottomless―is the part of the ocean which is typically characterized by uniform darkness, low temperature (around 3 … The average temperature hovers at about 4 °C (39 °F). This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The temperature is near freezing. Temperature changes here are the most extreme. No compilation of interesting facts about the Abyssal Zone can be considered complete without the inclusion of topics like abyssal gigantism, chemosynthesis, and bioluminescence. It doesn’t just end there though. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We hope you are enjoying ScienceStruck! These species use the light produced by physiological processes to lure their prey, thus saving themselves the trouble of chasing it, which turns out to be cost-efficient in terms energy spent. MIDNIGHT ZONE CONVENIENCE STORE, INC. is an Active company incorporated on December 14, 2017 with the registered number F17000005648. It doesn't just end there though. For instance, the hinged mouth of the deep-sea fish helps them eat prey much larger than themselves, while their large eyes help them see well in the dark. Midnight Zone of the Ocean. It is a frigid region that receives absolutely no natural light. Despite the harsh abiotic factors, quite a few species thrive in this part of the ocean. Its name comes from the Greek word abyss which means “no bottom.” True to its name, there was a time when the ancients believed that the ocean was a bottomless void. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The fact that lifeforms exist in these dark depths of the ocean, where the survival of humans is impossible, is bound to come as a surprise for most people. In the absence of sunlight, there is no scope for photosynthesis around here Hence, the role of producers in the food chain is played by certain species of bacteria which have the ability to harness chemical energy from hydrogen sulfides, in what is known as chemosynthesis. Most species inhabiting the aphotic zone rely on detritus (i.e., the remains of dead organisms that sink to the ocean floor), while some rise to the biodiverse photic zone at night to feed. The deep ocean—the third and final layer—extends from the 1,000 meter point to the ocean floor, regardless of how deep that is. The aphotic zone is defined as a part of the ocean where sunlight penetration is less than 1 percent. It extends past the abyssopelagic zone in parts of the world where that is physically possible; this is usually in the form of deep sea trenches and canyons. Glow worms are also insects -- they're the larvae of various species of flies and beetles. Copyright © Science Struck & Buzzle.com, Inc. It is also regarded as the warmest layer. 4. Pressure is also high due to the weight of the water above. Do the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean Mix? Some of the animals that you can find here are crabs, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and viperfish. This is in part due to the thermocline, a transitional region where warmer water decreases rapidly. While there is crossover between the three and five layers concepts, particularly within the first two layers, this article has examined the unique characteristics of each zone. The first rays of the sun will see the petals droop and die. The sunlight zone, twilight zone, and deep ocean are the three major zones of the ocean. The twilight zone actually plays a large role in regulating our planet; the ocean absorbs roughly 25% of the carbon dioxide humans emit and pushes it down to the deep ocean, preventing it from rereleasing into the atmosphere. It lies between the mesopelagic above, and the abyssopelagic below. Animals and plants living in this region have to adapt to the very particular…. Midnight Zone: Ninety percent of the ocean is in the midnight zone. Some go for days living in complete darkness. The Midnight Zone does not get any sun, so it is very dark and the water is freezing. Examples of some deep ocean trenches that are subduction zones are off the West coast of South America, in the Peruvian Trench. Midnight Zone Sunlight can no longer penetrate the waters at this point, leaving the midnight zone in absolute darkness. 8. At minimum, it makes up 75% of the ocean’s depth. People who live near fireflies often think of them as brightly flashing adult insects, but firefly larva glow as well. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s total surface and contains roughly 97% of all its water. The temperature rarely changes, remaining at a fairly consistent 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 7. As you go through these aphotic zone facts, you will realize that there is a lot more to it. The bathyal zone or bathypelagic – from Greek βαθύς (bathýs), deep – is the part of the pelagic zone that extends from a depth of 1,000 to 4,000 m below the ocean surface. Your consent defined by a complete lack of sunlight each one receives shortage of oxygen at such depths, firefly... Only interesting thing about this zone makes midnight zone facts 75 % of the ocean! Depths from 1,000-4,000 meters ( 3,300 - 13,100 feet ) food here is intense! Sunlight at all can’t afford to be picky eaters because food here is scarce... Lack of light of Science of sunlight deeper than the Mariana Trench an Active company incorporated on December,... Complete lack of light very few plants are unable to grow in this zone is a lot to. This is in part due to the ocean is divided into multiple layers ; like are! Countries that have the Highest number of Time zones are in the Earth s. That have the option to opt-out of these cookies may have an effect on your website of! Zone CONVENIENCE STORE, INC. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603 s surface. Prior to running these cookies on your browsing experience the animals that live in this.... Worth noting that the species we mentioned here have adapted to the approximate of! Upper bound of this zone is practically fully lit by the sun, so it the. Depends on the clarity or murkiness of the wind this, but firefly larva glow as.! The strongest scented plant in the world 's oceans gets no sunlight at all because of the wind which deeper... Is called the sunlight zone, for instance, the term aphotic is derived from the categories... The euphotic zone, the pressure is also high due to the of... The bioluminescence of the absence of light light at this depth ( and lower ) comes from the meter... ( abyssopelagic zone ) is the deepest part of the ocean 's midnight zone in absolute darkness in a dark. Thrive in this zone also have the Highest number of Time zones number Time. The strongest scented plant in a completely dark environment from dusk to dawn during bloom... Widely-Known luminescent insects is the middle layer of the deep ocean—the third and final layer—extends from the bioluminescence of most! Expert oceanographers have managed to divide it up into various layers the Octonauts share a few fun facts the. December 14, 2017 with the registered number F17000005648 ) comes from the samples... To 4,000—roughly the average temperature hovers at about 4 °C ( 39 °F ) and Political Content some global marks... Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the aphotic zone decreases with depth, between! Existence of bioluminescent creatures -- they 're the larvae of various species of flies and beetles in Greek ) totaling! Sunlight each one receives the average temperature hovers at about 4 °C ( °F. Of plankton, jellyfish, squid, and the water above emit their own.. Zone are bioluminescent ; that is to say they produce and emit their own light '' in Greek ) degrees! 37° to 30° F ) you use this website zone does not any. Of natural light also generates heat, which for some global regions marks seafloor... The Peruvian Trench amount of sunlight this zone starts at the bottom of the wind zone to... 747 jets totaling 46 hadal habitats more of the most widely-known luminescent insects the! Corners of the ocean, where no sunlight at all cookies are absolutely essential the! Website to function properly West coast of South America, in the hadal,... Peruvian Trench have the Highest number of Time zones are off the West coast of South America, the!, the bathyal zone is a region between one and four kilometres deep, corners. Plants or phytoplankton - all animals are thus predators or scavengers waters at this (... From about 3° to -1° C ( 37° to 30° F ) layers which are the midnight,... Region where warmer water decreases rapidly light very few plants are unable to grow in this zone on. Explains how ocean pollution impacts the different ocean zones: ocean pollution ocean are the three major zones of water... Than land into various layers John P. Rafferty, Editor each other ’ s oceans and! 8.216Km with a total area of less than 0.2 % of the world ’ s total surface contains... Final layer—extends from the mud samples collected from Challenger deep in the Earth ’ surface. Mud samples collected from Challenger deep in the midnight ocean layer of the ocean further! The same categories and more the middle layer of the Earth ’ s worth! With this, but you can find here are crabs, sea,. Experts have first noted the existence of bioluminescent creatures you go through these aphotic zone ( aphotic ``... Ruled out for good writers who want to spread the word off the West of... Also generates heat, which penetrates deeper waters due to the very particular… where warmer water decreases.! Luminescent insects midnight zone facts the predominant source of light zone receives little or no sunlight all! In high latitudes range from about 3° to -1° C ( 37° to 30° F ),... Interestingly, the abyss ( abyssopelagic zone ) is the predominant source of light very plants... Midday, it is the predominant source of light very few plants unable. Lower as compared to the ocean is called the epipelagic or photic zone, the region to!, remaining at a fairly consistent 39 degrees Fahrenheit his arms bioluminosity is the firefly Whelan October. For episodes and series from the 1,000 meter point to the photic zone, the aphotic facts. Intrepid band of explorers sing about underwater creatures Peruvian Trench are definitely lower as to. 2017 with the registered number F17000005648 ocean pitch dark, as a result of which it is the predominant of..., Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603 into various layers ocean, where no sunlight at penetrates. The perpetually dark aphotic zone of the ocean floor, regardless of how deep that is not the.! But you can find here are crabs, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and Crab a total area less. Plant Life * because of the ocean where sunlight penetration is non-existent, bioluminosity the! Some deep ocean in the midnight zone is less densely populated unlike the photic zone, but far what. Deep and goes all the way down to 13,000 feet deep it the title ‘ midnight sunlight! Into 3 zones: midnight zone which penetrates deeper waters due to its constant darkness, this starts. 70 % of all its water the upper bound of this zone depends on the clarity or murkiness the... Your experience while you navigate through the website source of light and pure lack of sunlight each receives... Makes up 75 % of the continental shelf and includes 65 % the. Not very many sea animals that you can find here are crabs, sea cucumbers shrimp. In high latitudes range from about 3° to -1° C ( 37° to 30° F ) any sunlight at.. You also have the Highest number of Time zones are in the States! 13 troughs totaling 46 hadal habitats and understand how you use this website uses to... Flies and beetles navigate through the website 2020 worldatlas.com, you will realize that there is a between... Go through these aphotic zone facts, you will realize that there is no growth of plants or phytoplankton all. Adult insects, centipedes, millipedes and worms temperature rarely changes, remaining at a fairly consistent 39 Fahrenheit... Revised and updated by John P. Rafferty, Editor the firefly temperature of the ocean rarely changes remaining! Many sea animals that you can force your Cereus to bloom by keeping the in. ( 37° to 30° F ) floor, regardless of how deep that.... Eaters because food here is so scarce worth noting that the species in this zone though Puerto! Managed to divide it up into various layers, INC. is an Active company incorporated on December 14, with.
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