How much precipitation does the intertidal zone get?

Imperial Beach receives 10.5 inches of rainfall annually. Laguna Beach receives 13.8 inches of rainfall a year and there are an estimated 33 days of rainfall. Newport Beach receives 10.6 inches of rainfall, and has 35 days of rainfall. Oceanside has 10.3 inches annually and 33 days of rainfall.

1. What is the precipitation of the intertidal zone?
2. How many times a day does the intertidal zone get wet?
3. What is the weather like in the intertidal zone?
4. Is the intertidal zone always dry?
5. What is the depth of the intertidal zone?
6. How does climate change affect intertidal zones?
7. Can Beach fleas live in the intertidal zone?
8. How much does the intertidal zone drop on rocky shores?
9. What marine life zones make up the sandy beaches?
10. Why do organisms go between zones?
11. What intertidal zone has mostly shelled organisms?
12. How do animals survive in the intertidal zone?
13. Why is it so tough to live in the intertidal zone?
14. Is there sunlight in the intertidal zone?
15. How do barnacles prevent being washed away?

What is the precipitation of the intertidal zone?

The precipitation of the intertidal zone is an average of 118.1 inches in a year. Of that amount, 19.69 inches is attributed to fog. Water is key to intertidal life because the creatures that inhabit the intertidal zone are made up mostly of water. The intertidal zone is the area between high and low tides.

How many times a day does the intertidal zone get wet?

The intertidal zone experiences two different states: one at low tide when it is exposed to the air and the other at high tide when it is submerged in seawater. The zone is completely submerged by the tide once or twice every day.

What is the weather like in the intertidal zone?

The weather in the intertidal areas can be extreme. The air and water temperature can range from extremely hot to below freezing to moderate. The average range of air temperature is from 75°f to 102°f. ... The intertidal zone has much more moist weather, because it is located on the coast.

Is the intertidal zone always dry?

The intertidal zone is the area where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. ... High intertidal zone: floods during the peaks of daily high tides but remains dry for long stretches between high tides.

What is the depth of the intertidal zone?

This zone extends from 1000 meters (3281 feet) down to 4000 meters (13,124 feet). Here the only visible light is that produced by the creatures themselves. The water pressure at this depth is immense, reaching 5,850 pounds per square inch.

How does climate change affect intertidal zones?

Warming Ocean Temperatures

Warming conditions affect intertidal community dynamics in many ways including shifts in species distribution towards the poles and altered growth of marine organisms11,12. Organisms respond to climate change by relocating to microhabitats with preferred conditions.

Can Beach fleas live in the intertidal zone?

Commonly known as 'beach hoppers' or 'sand fleas', they are highly motile animals which can either crawl or hop along the sand surface. They are well modified for the high intertidal zone, having gills that function almost as lungs. ... They leave their shelter at night and migrate down the beach searching for food.

How much does the intertidal zone drop on rocky shores?

In the intertidal zone, water levels along rocky shore may drop 12 feet or more between high and low tide. That means that organisms living on the rocks may be exposed to the air for 10 hours or more between high tides.

What marine life zones make up the sandy beaches?

Many species of worms, snails, clams, oysters, mussels and seastars make the intertidal zone their home. Rocky shores and sandy beaches fall within the intertidal zone.

Why do organisms go between zones?

Organisms that photosynthesize depend on sunlight for food and so are restricted to the photic zone. Since tiny photosynthetic organisms, known as phytoplankton, supply nearly all of the energy and nutrients to the rest of the marine food web, most other marine organisms live in or at least visit the photic zone.

What intertidal zone has mostly shelled organisms?

Middle Tide Zone: Also called the Lower Mid-littoral Zone. This turbulent area is covered and uncovered twice a day with salt water from the tides. Organisms in this area include anemones, barnacles, chitons, crabs, green algae, isopods, limpets, mussels, sea lettuce, sea palms, sea stars, snails, sponges, and whelks.

How do animals survive in the intertidal zone?

Animals living in the intertidal zone must be able to tolerate wide salinity variations. If sufficient nutrients are available, intertidal animals reproduce rapidly, so they constantly compete for space, light, and food. Animals are also exposed to predators while the tide is out.

Why is it so tough to live in the intertidal zone?

Why is the intertidal zone a difficult place to live? Because the animals need to survive the pounding waves, and the sudden changes in water levels and sudden temperature changes. Barnicles can survive here because they have adapted.

Is there sunlight in the intertidal zone?

With the intertidal zone's high exposure to sunlight, the temperature can range from very hot with full sunshine to near freezing in colder climates. Some microclimates in the littoral zone are moderated by local features and larger plants such as mangroves.

How do barnacles prevent being washed away?

The barnacle secretes the calcium-hard plates which totally encase them. These white cones have six nearly fitted plates that form a circle around the crustacean. ... When the tide goes out, the barnacle closes shop to conserve moisture.