Ocean Low-poly 3D model

cgtrader

This passage is discussing oceanography and how the ocean is divided into different zones. These zones are categorized based on physical and biological conditions such as light, temperature, salinity, and depth. The passage mentions the following zones: * Photic zone: The top layer of the ocean where photosynthesis can occur and plants live. * Aphotic zone: The deeper layers of the ocean that do not receive enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. Hydrothermal vents are the primary source of energy in this zone. * Epipelagic zone: The upper part of the pelagic (open ocean) region within the photic zone. * Mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, and hadalpelagic zones: These zones refer to different depth ranges below 200m and are further divided into temperature-based regions. The passage also discusses benthic zones: * Bathyal zone: The continental slope down to about 4,000 meters. * Abyssal zone: The plains between 4,000-6,000 m. * Hadal zone: Found in oceanic trenches and corresponding to the hadalpelagic zone. Additionally, it discusses subregions within the pelagic zone: * Neritic zone: Directly above the continental shelves. * Oceanic zone: Completely open water. It also talks about the littoral (intertidal) zone, where there is a transitional area between marine and terrestrial conditions. The passage explains that temperature, salinity, and chemistry gradients can create different types of clines within ocean zones. The passage mentions how global density gradients, created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes, drive large-scale ocean circulation. This circulation plays an important role in transferring heat to polar regions and regulating sea ice levels.