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Ocean Ecosystems

In this episode we'll learn:

  • What does the color blue mean?

 

 

 


What is the color blue:

The color blue is the color of an ocean desert. The way light reflects in the water and back to our eyes, makes empty ocean water blue. The more particles present in the water the greener, yellower, redder and browner the water.

It seems logical that tropical areas, which have on land a seemingly overabundance of nutrients, would have the oceans with the most nutrients. Yet, it's the opposite. Most tropical areas have crystal clear blue seas. It's in these areas where deepwater mixing (where the nutrients are found) is very small. So how are coral reefs sustained? Read about that in the coral reef section.

Text by Rob Nelson

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