FAQs
Why is life limited in the open ocean? ›
Because of the density difference between surface water and the deep sea across most of the ocean, ocean circulation can only very slowly reintroduce dissolved nutrients to the euphotic zone. By driving nutrients out of the sunlit, buoyant surface waters, ocean productivity effectively limits itself.
Why does the open ocean have very low primary productivity? ›The open ocean typically has a low productivity. Warm sunlit water is separated from the colder, nutrient-rich interior by a strong density difference. Mixing is restricted, thus reducing nutrient supply. Light also affects the productivity of open oceans.
What does the open ocean refer to? ›The pelagic zone, also known as the open ocean, is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas. Here you will find some of the biggest marine life species. Species here are affected by wave and wind activity, pressure, water temperature and prey.
How big is the open ocean? ›Fun Facts About the Open Ocean
Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface, and half of those waters are at least 1.86 miles (3 km) deep. 2. As far as we know, the ocean is 36,200 feet (11,000 m or almost 7 miles) deep at its deepest point. On average, the ocean is about 12,100 feet (3,688 m) deep.
No, the ocean has no single capacity. It does, however, have numerous separate but interrelated capacities: There is some of every substance on Earth dissolved in the ocean. Very few if any of them are saturated but one could work out a saturated capacity in the ocean for each of them.
Is there life in the open ocean? ›The open ocean is home to a huge array of organisms, from microscopic plankton to the largest animal to have ever lived, the blue whale, and every size, shape and spectacular creature in-between. However, life is not evenly distributed throughout the open oceans and much of it is referred to as a biological desert.
Why is the open ocean not a productive ecosystem? ›In aquatic ecosystems, the limiting factor for productivity is light as the producers depend on the light which is scanty in deeper layers. The availability of nutrients present in the ocean is less.
Why might open ocean have such low productivity quizlet? ›The open ocean has low primary productivity because it is away from coastlines, meaning the water is so deep nutrients sink to the bottom where algae can't reach.
Why is the open ocean lowest of NPP? ›Low net primary production in the open ocean is due to the less number of producers with respect to the ocean's large volume and open space.
Why is the open ocean important? ›Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth's surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns. Transportation: Seventy-six percent of all U.S. trade involves some form of marine transportation.
What ecosystem supports the most life? ›
Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet—even more than a tropical rainforest. Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than 25% of all marine life.
What lives at 13,000 feet? ›Dumbo Octopus
This adorable little octopus is perhaps the deepest of our eight deep-sea creatures: they only live deeper than 3962 meters (13000 feet). Many have been observed by ROVs during exploratory dives, and as they have quite a cute appearance, they have gained a lot of fans around the world.
That's about 13,000 feet, or nearly 2.5 miles. Inflated car tires have about 2 atmospheres of pressure, he said, so the pressure at this depth is 200 times that.
Which ocean water is coldest? ›“Antarctic bottom water” is the coldest, saltiest water on the planet. These waters play a crucial role in the ocean's ability to act as a buffer against climate change by absorbing excess heat and human-caused carbon pollution.
Which ocean is deepest? ›The Pacific is also our planet's deepest water body, with an average depth of approximately 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). The deepest place on Earth, known as Challenger Deep, extends to a depth of more than 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) and is found in the Mariana Trench, in the Pacific.
What are the limiting factors for life in the open ocean? ›Therefore, if we refer to a biotic factor, food availability is a limiting factor for most animal life in the open ocean, whereas, if the refer to an abiotic factor, temperature (and light) are limiting factors for pelagic life.
Why is it hard to live in the ocean? ›Organisms living in the deep ocean must be adapted to survive under extreme pressure, limited light, cold temperatures, and other factors.
Why is there less life deep in the ocean? ›But the majority of the space in the ocean is a dark world. Dive below the epipelagic and you will enter the mesopelagic zone. Also known as the twilight zone, this area receives only faint, filtered sunlight, allowing no photosynthetic organisms to survive.
Why can't humans survive in the ocean? ›The water is heavier than air, and therefore puts more pressure on us and objects in the sea. The deeper you go into the ocean, the more water there is above you, so there is more pressure. Our human bodies - specifically our lungs - are only designed to manage one atmosphere's worth of pressure (like we do on land).