The oblique-banded snapper or gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus) lives in the twilight, or mesophotic, zone where only dim blue light penetrates. Top image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration: bottom image courtesy of Bruce C. Mundy, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.

The Science of Light and Color in the Deep Ocean

Animals throughout the ocean depths are different colors and use different colors of bioluminescence. Why? How?

During this investigation, students explore the phenomenon of light and color in the ocean through sense-making. This process includes investigating how light interacts with different materials, making connections between the observed phenomenon and what happens to light as it passes through the ocean.

Additional Resources
Support student understanding of light and color in the deep sea with these additional resources:
Bioluminescence (Fact Sheet)
Three Mysterious Light Effects (Fact Sheet))
Light and Color in the Deep Sea (Fact Sheet)

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