Knowra Abyssal zone Abyssal zone The abyssal zone is the deep-ocean region, typically 3,000 to 6,000 meters below the surface, encompassing much of the seafloor. It is cold, dark, and under immense pressure.
Bathyal zone : The ocean region between the continental shelf and the abyssal plain, generally about 200 to 3,000 meters deep. Its shallower depths mark the boundary above the abyssal zone.
Bioluminescence : The production and emission of light by living organisms through chemical reactions. Some deep-sea animals use self-generated light to communicate, lure prey, or evade predators.
Deep-sea exploration : The investigation of ocean depths using vessels, sensors, and submersible vehicles. Exploration reveals abyssal habitats that cannot be observed from the surface.
Deep-sea ecology : The study of organisms and ecological processes in the ocean's deep regions. It investigates how abyssal communities function and respond to disturbance.
Hadal zone : The deepest ocean region, found mainly in trenches below about 6,000 meters. Its trench depths extend below the abyssal zone.
Chemosynthesis : The production of organic molecules using energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight. It supports local food webs where chemical-rich fluids reach the seafloor.
Remotely operated underwater vehicle : An uncrewed underwater vehicle piloted remotely through a tethered connection. ROVs record video and collect samples on the abyssal seafloor.
Benthic ecosystem : An ecological community associated with the bottom of a body of water. Abyssal habitats are benthic systems whose food webs remain incompletely observed.
Abyssal plain : A broad, nearly flat region of deep-ocean floor covered by fine sediment. These plains make up much of the seafloor within the abyssal zone.
Hydrothermal vent : A seafloor opening that releases geothermally heated, chemically altered water. Vents create unusual deep-sea habitats powered by chemical energy.
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