The oceans’ twilight zone must be studied now, before it is too late

The oceans’ twilight zone must be studied now, before it is too late

We must explore the twilight zone now

In the oceans’ twilight zone, 200–1,000 metres deep, currents and ‘marine snow’ mix water from the abyss and the sunlit region above, and many organisms migrate up and down daily between layers. These poorly understood processes provide nutrient exchange and carbon sequestration. But the twilight zone is about to suffer a triple blow from carbon emissions, excessive fishing and increased sea-floor mining. Sixteen oceanographers call for scientists to seize the upcoming United Nations Decade of the Ocean, which starts next year, as an opportunity to focus on this crucial, neglected ecosystem.

Nature | 8 min read