euphotic zone

[ yoo-foh-tik ]

noun

, Oceanography.

1. the layer of sea water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur: it varies greatly with season and latitude, from 0 to 1200 ft. (0–360 m).

Word History and Origins

Origin of euphotic zone¹

First recorded in 1960–65; eu- + photic

Example Sentences

"The mining companies send these tailings down a long pipe, down below the euphotic zone, below 200m, and essentially smother everything on the seafloor," explained Prof Andrew Sweetman, a research scientist with Niva.

From BBC