Photic zone
From Free net encyclopedia
The photic zone is the depth of the water, whether in a lake or an ocean, that is exposed to sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. The depth of the photic zone can be greatly affected by seasonal turbidity.
It extends from the atmosphere-ocean interface downwards to a depth where light intensity falls to 1% of that at the surface (also called euphotic depth), so its thickness depends on the extent of light attenuation in the water column. Typical euphotic depths vary from only several metres in turbid estuaries to around 200 metres in the open ocean.
Since the photic zone is the only zone of water where primary productivity occurs, an exception being the productivity connected with abyssal hydrothermal vents along mid-oceanic ridges, the depth of the photic zone is generally proportional to the level of primary productivity that occurs in that area of the ocean.
The transparency of water, which affects the photic zone, is simply measured with a Secchi disk.
See also
de:Euphotische Zone es:Zona fótica fr:Zone photique is:Ljóstillífunarbelti no:Eufotisk