Editing Photic zone (section)

{{Short description|Uppermost layer of a sea water column that is exposed to sunlight}}
{{aquatic layer topics}}

The '''photic zone''' (or '''euphotic zone''', '''epipelagic zone''', or '''sunlight zone''') is the uppermost layer of a [[body of water]] that receives [[sunlight]], allowing [[phytoplankton]] to perform [[photosynthesis]]. It undergoes a series of physical, chemical, and biological processes that supply [[nutrient]]s into the upper [[water column]]. The photic zone is home to the majority of [[Aquatic ecosystem|aquatic life]] due to the activity ([[Marine primary production|primary production]]) of the phytoplankton. The thicknesses of the photic and euphotic zones vary with the intensity of sunlight as a function of season and latitude and with the degree of water turbidity. The bottommost, or aphotic, zone is the region of perpetual darkness that lies beneath the photic zone and includes most of the ocean waters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Photic zone {{!}} Marine Life, Photosynthesis & Light {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/photic-zone |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>