&marinehome=The marine environment includes the seafloor as well as vertical space above. We can’t live in the “airspace” above us, but many marine organisms utilize “waterspace” below and above. Because of its proximity to sunlight, near surface waters are prime real estate in the ocean. As on land, distinct and some not-so-distinct marine environments exist. These environments are characterized by particular groups of organisms because of key environmental differences. We created this diagram to help you learn about the more commonly recognized marine environments by highlighting key features that distinguish each environment. Many other diagrams exist so you might want to check them out later. The first view shows all of the terms we include. Select the other buttons to look at related groups of terms in more detail. &title1=NUTRITION &title2=Light &title3=Benthic &title4=Pelagic &title5=Tectonic &title6=Light vs. Depth &title7=Temperature vs. Depth &title8=Oxygen vs. Depth &zoneEu=Euphotic Zone &zoneEuInfo=In the euphotic zone, there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis to take place. The thickness of the euphotic zone depends on the cloudiness of the water column. The euphotic zone can extend down to 200 m in clear water areas. &zoneDis=Disphotic Zone &zoneDisInfo=In the disphotic zone there is some light, but not enough for photosynthesis. &zoneAph=Aphotic Zone &zoneAphInfo=In the aphotic zone, no sunlight penetrates. &zoneInter=Intertidal Zone &zoneInterInfo=The intertidal zone includes areas that are exposed by the tides. &zoneLitt=Littoral Zone &zoneLittInfo=The littoral zone extends from the high tide line down to about 200m at the edge of the continental shelf. Often the shallowest part of the littoral zone is subdivided into smaller zones depending on the degree of exposure by tides. In detail, you might recognize a supralittoral zone, an environment moistened by sea spray only. The portion of the littoral zone between the high tide line and 60 m is often distinguished as the eulittoral zone. The eulittoral zone has enough sunlight to support active coral reef building and algal growth. The remaining depth below is called the sublittoral zone. &zoneArchib=Archibenthic Zone &zoneArchibInfo=The archibenthic zone extends from the edge of the continental shelf down to about 1,000 meters. It includes the edge of the continental margin (shelf-break) and the upper part of the continental slope. The waters that intersect this benthic zone are lightless, cold and generally oxygen-poor. In many parts of the ocean, the oxygen mininum intersects the bottom of the seafloor across this depth zone. &zoneBathyb=Bathybenthic Zone &zoneBathybInfo=The bathybenthic zone extends from 1,000 to 4,000 meters depth and includes most of the continental slope. The waters that intersect this benthic zone are lightless and cold. There is usually low biological productivity. Submarine canyons and tubidity currents cut across this environment. The tops of most mid-ocean ridges fall within this depth range. This part of the ocean is bathed in waters with greater oxygen content than areas above. &zoneAbyssob=Abyssobenthic Zone &zoneAbyssobInfo=The abyssobenthic zone extends from 4,000 to 6,000 meteres depth and includes the deep ocean floor, many seamounts, abyssal hills, and flanks of the mid-ocean ridges. There is little material input from land in this environment. This zone is cold, dark, and receives very little food from outside. &zoneHadob=Hadobenthic Zone &zoneHadobInfo=The hadobenthic zone includes the unusually deep parts of the seafloor found in trenches. Little is known about the characteristics of this environment. This zone is also cold and dark. &zoneDeep=Deep Sea Zone &zoneDeepInfo= &zoneNer=Neritic Zone &zoneNerInfo=The neritic zone includes the water column from the shoreline at high tide down to the edge of the continental shelf. This coastal environment is generally more productive than the open ocean because more nutrients are available. This part of the water column is also susceptible to wave action, turbulence, and coastal currents. &zoneOceanic=Oceanic Zone &zoneOceanicInfo=The oceanic zone includes the water column above deep parts of the ocean away from land. The surface layer is sunlit and warmer, while the lower areas are dark and uniformly cold. &zoneEpip=Epipelagic Zone &zoneEpipInfo=The epipelagic zone extends from the shoreline down to 200 m. Productivity is relatively high in the presence of nutrients, because sunlight is available. Water temperatures are relatively warm. &zoneMesop=Mesopelagic Zone &zoneMesopInfo=The mesopelagic zone extends from 200 to 1,000 meters. Very little light is available, water temperatures are cold, and oxygen is poor. &zoneBathyp=Bathypelagic Zone &zoneBathypInfo=The bathypelagic zone extends from 1,000 to 4,000 meters. There is no light excluding that from bioluminescent creatures and occasional lava flows. Biological productivity is low and water is cold. &zoneAbyssop=Abyssopelagic Zone &zoneAbyssopInfo=The abyssopelagic zone extends from 4,000 to 6,000 meters depth. There is no light and waters are cold. &zoneHadop=Hadopelagic Zone &zoneHadopInfo=The hadopelagic zone extends from 6,000 meters to the deepest depths in the ocean. There is no light and waters are cold. These areas are deep narrow trenches. &zoneShelf=Continental Shelf &zoneShelfInfo=The continental shelf is the shallow platform extending from the shoreline down to about 200 m depth. The continental shelf is the submerged edge of the continent. The lower edge of the continental shelf is called the shelf break. &zoneSlope=Continental Slope &zoneSlopeInfo=The continental slope marks the end of underlying continental crust and the transition to underlying oceanic crust. The continental slope is the steep area between the continental shelf and rise. Deep submarine canyons carry terrestrial materials across the continental shelf and slope into the deep sea. &zoneRise=Continental Rise &zoneRiseInfo=The continental rise is the area sloping gently seaward beyond the continental slope. &zonePlain=Abyssal Plain &zonePlainInfo=The abyssal plain is the deep area of the seafloor beyond the continental rise. &zoneTrench=Deep Sea Trench &zoneTrenchInfo=The trenches are narrow and abnormally deep parts of the seafloor marking zones of subduction. The deepest point of the ocean is in the Marianas trench at 11,000 mbsl.