Question

monterey bay aquarium
data sheet #4
light wavelength and depth
look at the table and diagram below. the table shows light radiation and its wavelengths. the diagram depicts a cross section of the ocean.
use your colored pencils to color the sections in the diagram so that they correspond to the wavelength ranges listed in the table. notice that some colors of light penetrate deeper than others.

type of radiation	wavelength (nanometers)
blue	424-491
green	491-575
yellow	575-585
orange	585-647
red	647-750

(diagram with wavelength scale and depth scale, and colored regions representing different light colors penetration)

1. which color penetrates deepest into ocean waters?

blue

1. does this diagram support your observations on the other data sheets? why or why not?

1. describe the relationship between depth and an organism’s coloration.

Explanation:

For Question 1 (Which color penetrates deepest into ocean waters?):

From the diagram, the blue - colored region (corresponding to blue light) extends the deepest into the ocean depth (the black area representing depth shows blue reaching lower depths compared to other colors like red, orange, etc.). The table also lists blue's wavelength, and visually, the blue - colored part in the diagram goes down the furthest among the colored regions.

If other data sheets also relate to light penetration in the ocean (e.g., about marine life's light exposure, photosynthesis at different depths), this diagram supports it by showing the depth each color penetrates. For example, if other sheets show that organisms at deeper depths rely on light that can penetrate (like blue), this diagram's depiction of blue's deep penetration aligns. It provides a visual representation of light wavelength - depth relationship, which can correlate with other observations about oceanic processes (like photosynthesis zones, animal vision adaptations) from other data sheets.

Organisms at deeper ocean depths (where blue light penetrates the most) may have coloration that either absorbs or reflects blue light. For example, deep - sea organisms might be colored to blend in with the blue - dominated light environment (cryptic coloration) or use bioluminescence (which often relates to the available light wavelengths). Shallow - water organisms, where more light wavelengths (like red, orange) are available, can have a wider range of colorations as they are exposed to a broader spectrum of light. Organisms at greater depths are more likely to have coloration adapted to the light that can reach them (mostly blue), while shallow - dwelling organisms can have colors corresponding to the more diverse light spectrum at shallower depths.

Answer:

Blue

For Question 2 (Does this diagram support your observations on the other data sheets? Why or why not?):