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Mysteries of the Mesopelagic

NOAA

The open ocean - everything except the coast and bottom - is not the same at different depths. It’s made up of habitats defined by currents, pressure, and temperature, but most of all by light. We know much about the epipelagic zone —the area from the surface to around 200 meters where sunlight penetrates and photosynthetic organisms to thrive. But travel a little deeper to the mesopelagic, an area from around 200 to 1000 meters, and the loss of light makes it very hard to explore—until recently. Take a dive with NOAA Ocean Today Every Full Moon to learn about this mysterious midwater ecosystem and the creatures that call it home. 

Tags: NOAA