{"id":41,"date":"2017-01-23T16:35:35","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T16:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/1-3-marine-provinces\/"},"modified":"2021-10-27T21:15:23","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T21:15:23","slug":"1-3-marine-provinces","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/1-3-marine-provinces\/","title":{"raw":"1.3 Marine Provinces","rendered":"1.3 Marine Provinces"},"content":{"raw":"In <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/1-2-continental-margins\/\">section 1.2<\/a> we learned about the regions that make up the [pb_glossary id=\"650\"]continental margins[\/pb_glossary]. So before we leave this topic, we will look at some of the other ways we can categorize the ocean environments.\r\n\r\nThe first major distinction is between the pelagic and benthic zones. The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"1266\"]pelagic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone refers to the water column, where swimming and floating organisms live. The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"582\"]benthic[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone refers to the bottom, and organisms living on and in the bottom are known as the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"584\"]benthos[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nThe pelagic zone is divided into two provinces: the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"966\"]neritic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> province corresponds to all of the water from the low tide line to the shelf break, while the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"988\"]oceanic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> province represents all of the other water in the open ocean regions.\r\n\r\nThe oceanic province is divided into depth zones (Figure 1.3.1):\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>0-200 m is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"724\"]epipelagic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone (\"epi\" = \"upon\", as in on top of the pelagic zone). This is the region where enough light penetrates the water to support [pb_glossary id=\"1024\"]photosynthesis [\/pb_glossary] (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/7-3-factors-influencing-production\/\">section 7.3<\/a>), so it is also called the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"730\"]euphotic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> or <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"728\"]photic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>200-1000 m is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"940\"]mesopelagic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone (\"meso\" = \"middle\"). There is some light here, but not enough for photosynthesis, so it is called the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"702\"]dysphotic zone[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>, or the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"704\"]twilight zone[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>1000-4000 m is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"576\"]bathypelagic [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone (\"bathy\" = \"deep\"). There is no light at these depths, so it is referred to as the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"548\"]aphotic [\/pb_glossary] <\/strong>zone. About 75% of the living space in the ocean lies at these depths or deeper.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>4000-6000 m is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"528\"]abyssopelagic [\/pb_glossary] <\/strong>or <strong>abyssalpelagic<\/strong> zone, which extends to the seafloor in most areas.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>6000 m and below is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"814\"]hadopelagic [\/pb_glossary] <\/strong>or <strong>hadalpelagic<\/strong> zone (named for Hades or \"hell\"). This refers to the water in deep ocean trenches.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nInhabitants of these regions are referred to according to their habitat, for example mesopelagic fish, or epipelagic squid.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_40\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/rwu.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"wp-image-40 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-1024x767.png\" alt=\"The major benthic and pelagic oceanic divisions: epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssalpelagic, and hedalpelagic.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" \/><\/a> <strong>Figure 1.3.1<\/strong> The major benthic and pelagic oceanic divisions (K. Aainsqatsi at en.wikipedia [Public domain, GFDL (http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons).[\/caption]The [pb_glossary id=\"582\"]benthic [\/pb_glossary] environment is also divided into zones, most of which correspond to the pelagic divisions:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"1190\"]supralittoral [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone lies above the high tide line. Also called the spray zone, it is only submerged during storms or unusually high waves.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"906\"]littoral [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone is the region between the high and low tides. Thus it is also referred to as the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"870\"]intertidal[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Below the littoral zone is the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"1188\"]sublittoral [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> (shelf) zone, extending from the low tide mark to the [pb_glossary id=\"1136\"]shelf break[\/pb_glossary], essentially covering the [pb_glossary id=\"654\"]continental shelf[\/pb_glossary].<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"572\"]bathyal [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone extends along the bottom from the shelf break to 4000m, so it generally includes the [pb_glossary id=\"656\"]continental slope[\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"652\"]rise[\/pb_glossary].<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"524\"]abyssal [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone is found between 4000-6000 m, including most of the [pb_glossary id=\"526\"]abyssal plains[\/pb_glossary]. The abyssal zone represents about 80% of the benthic environment.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"812\"]hadal [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> zone includes all benthic regions deeper than 6000 m, such as in the bottom of trenches.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/1-2-continental-margins\/\">section 1.2<\/a> we learned about the regions that make up the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_650\">continental margins<\/a>. So before we leave this topic, we will look at some of the other ways we can categorize the ocean environments.<\/p>\n<p>The first major distinction is between the pelagic and benthic zones. The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_1266\">pelagic <\/a><\/strong> zone refers to the water column, where swimming and floating organisms live. The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_582\">benthic<\/a><\/strong> zone refers to the bottom, and organisms living on and in the bottom are known as the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_584\">benthos<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The pelagic zone is divided into two provinces: the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_966\">neritic <\/a><\/strong> province corresponds to all of the water from the low tide line to the shelf break, while the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_988\">oceanic <\/a><\/strong> province represents all of the other water in the open ocean regions.<\/p>\n<p>The oceanic province is divided into depth zones (Figure 1.3.1):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>0-200 m is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_724\">epipelagic <\/a><\/strong> zone (&#8220;epi&#8221; = &#8220;upon&#8221;, as in on top of the pelagic zone). This is the region where enough light penetrates the water to support <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_1024\">photosynthesis <\/a> (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/chapter\/7-3-factors-influencing-production\/\">section 7.3<\/a>), so it is also called the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_730\">euphotic <\/a><\/strong> or <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_728\">photic <\/a><\/strong> zone.<\/li>\n<li>200-1000 m is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_940\">mesopelagic <\/a><\/strong> zone (&#8220;meso&#8221; = &#8220;middle&#8221;). There is some light here, but not enough for photosynthesis, so it is called the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_702\">dysphotic zone<\/a><\/strong>, or the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_704\">twilight zone<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>1000-4000 m is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_576\">bathypelagic <\/a><\/strong> zone (&#8220;bathy&#8221; = &#8220;deep&#8221;). There is no light at these depths, so it is referred to as the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_548\">aphotic <\/a> <\/strong>zone. About 75% of the living space in the ocean lies at these depths or deeper.<\/li>\n<li>4000-6000 m is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_528\">abyssopelagic <\/a> <\/strong>or <strong>abyssalpelagic<\/strong> zone, which extends to the seafloor in most areas.<\/li>\n<li>6000 m and below is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_814\">hadopelagic <\/a> <\/strong>or <strong>hadalpelagic<\/strong> zone (named for Hades or &#8220;hell&#8221;). This refers to the water in deep ocean trenches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Inhabitants of these regions are referred to according to their habitat, for example mesopelagic fish, or epipelagic squid.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rwu.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-40 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-1024x767.png\" alt=\"The major benthic and pelagic oceanic divisions: epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssalpelagic, and hedalpelagic.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-768x575.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-65x49.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-225x169.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions-350x262.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Oceanic_divisions.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1.3.1<\/strong> The major benthic and pelagic oceanic divisions (K. Aainsqatsi at en.wikipedia [Public domain, GFDL (http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_582\">benthic <\/a> environment is also divided into zones, most of which correspond to the pelagic divisions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_1190\">supralittoral <\/a><\/strong> zone lies above the high tide line. Also called the spray zone, it is only submerged during storms or unusually high waves.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_906\">littoral <\/a><\/strong> zone is the region between the high and low tides. Thus it is also referred to as the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_870\">intertidal<\/a><\/strong> zone.<\/li>\n<li>Below the littoral zone is the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_1188\">sublittoral <\/a><\/strong> (shelf) zone, extending from the low tide mark to the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_1136\">shelf break<\/a>, essentially covering the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_654\">continental shelf<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_572\">bathyal <\/a><\/strong> zone extends along the bottom from the shelf break to 4000m, so it generally includes the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_656\">continental slope<\/a> and <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_652\">rise<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_524\">abyssal <\/a><\/strong> zone is found between 4000-6000 m, including most of the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_526\">abyssal plains<\/a>. The abyssal zone represents about 80% of the benthic environment.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_41_812\">hadal <\/a><\/strong> zone includes all benthic regions deeper than 6000 m, such as in the bottom of trenches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_41_650\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_650\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of transition from the land to the deep sea floor, i.e. between continental and oceanic crust (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_1266\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_1266\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>relating to the open ocean (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_582\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_582\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>refers to the environment of the seafloor (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_584\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_584\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>refers to the community of organisms living on or in the ocean floor (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_966\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_966\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the marine pelagic province from the low tide line to the shelf break (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_988\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_988\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the marine pelagic province representing the open ocean regions, i.e. beyond the neritic zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_724\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_724\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the upper layer of water (0 to 200 m) in areas of the open ocean (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_1024\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_1024\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the production of organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water, using sunlight as an energy source (5.5)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_730\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_730\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the upper regions of the ocean where there is enough light to support photosynthesis; approximately 0-200 m; also called the photic zone (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_728\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_728\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the upper regions of the ocean where there is enough light to support photosynthesis; approximately 0-200 m; also called the euphotic zone (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_940\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_940\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the upper middle zone of the open ocean extending from 200 to 1000 m depth (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_702\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_702\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>depths of the water column where there is some light penetration, but not enough to support photosynthesis; corresponds to the mesopelagic zone, 200-1000 m. Also known as the twilight zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_704\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_704\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>depths of the water column where there is some light penetration, but not enough to support photosynthesis; corresponds to the mesopelagic zone, 200-1000 m. Also known as the dysphotic zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_576\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_576\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the moderately deep parts of the open ocean, between 1000 and 4000 m (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_548\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_548\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>depths beyond 1000 m where there is no light penetration (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_528\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_528\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the deeper parts of the open ocean, between 4000 and 6000 m; also known as the abyssalpelagic zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_814\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_814\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>region of the open ocean with water depths greater than 6000 m (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_1190\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_1190\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of a coast above the high tide line (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_906\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_906\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of a coast between the high and low tide lines. Also called the intertidal zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_870\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_870\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of a coast between the high and low tide lines. Also called the littoral zone (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_1188\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_1188\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of a coast from the low tide line to the end of the continental shelf (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_1136\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_1136\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the boundary between the continental shelf and continental slope, where the angle of the seafloor begins to get steeper (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_654\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_654\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the shallow (typically less than 200 m) and flat sub-marine extension of a continent (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_572\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_572\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of the seafloor from the shelf break to 4000 m \u00a0(1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_656\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_656\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the steeper part of a continental margin, that slopes down from a continental shelf towards the abyssal plain (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_652\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_652\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the area at the bottom of the continental slope, where it transitions to the abyssal sea floor (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_524\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_524\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of the seafloor between 4000-6000 m (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_526\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_526\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the flat seafloor of the deep ocean, typically beyond the limits of the continental slopes (1.2)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_41_812\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_41_812\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the region of the seafloor below 6000 m (1.3)<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":33,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["paul-webb"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[60],"license":[52],"class_list":["post-41","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-paul-webb","license-cc-by"],"part":28,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/41","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/41\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1551,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/41\/revisions\/1551"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/28"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/41\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=41"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=41"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/introduction-to-oceanography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=41"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}