Explainer: Importance of ocean layers
The oceans are a key component to discussing and understanding climate change. Let’s read about the layers of oceans and their role in sustenance of life…
There are three main ‘layers’ to the ocean: the surface ocean, the deep ocean, and the seafloor sediments (sediments that are still in contact with seawater). Each plays a vastly important role in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and in ocean circulation.
Surface Ocean and Thermocline
The surface ocean can be thought of as the upper ‘skin’ of the world’s ocean, and is often referred to as the mixed layer. When scientists refer to the surface ocean/mixed layer, we’re referring to the top 200 meters of the ocean, on average, but the depth of the mixed layer changes based on the seasons and latitude.
The mixed layer is defined as the layer in which there is active turbulence and mixing of oceanic waters due to winds, heat fluxes, evaporation, and salinity fluxes. The surface ocean is important because it is constantly exchanging gases with the atmosphere.
Deep Ocean
The deep ocean is all the seawater that is colder (generally 0-3°C or 32-37.4°F), and thus more dense, than mixed layer waters. Here, waters are deep enough to be away from the influence of winds. In general, deep ocean waters, which make up approximately 90% of the waters in the ocean, are homogenous (they are relatively constant in temperature and salinity from place to place) and non-turbulent.
Because the surface and deep ocean layers are of very different densities (due to salt content and temperature), these layers of the ocean do not mix easily. The resistance of two water bodies with different densities to mix is called stratification.
Seafloor sediments
Seafloor sediments are sediments that can be found at the bottom of the seafloor that are still in contact with seawater. This means that these sediments can still be influenced by the water around them.
Sediments located deeper below the sediment-water interface(the contact zone between sediments and seawater) are insulated, or cut off, from seawater. There are several different types of sediments that make up the seafloor.
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