Existing comment:
The Intertidal Area:
The edge of the ocean is perpetually changing. As the tides rise and fall twice each day, the waterline moves in and out. The land influenced by the fluctuating waters is the intertidal area, which can be divided into four zones:
Splash Zone
High-tide Zone
Mid-tide Zone
Low-tide Zone
You are now standing in the upper limits of the splash zone. The waterline does not come this high, but splash and spray sometimes do. Just below is the high-tide zone. This area is underwater only at high tide. Organisms that live here are exposed to air much of the time, while those that live out in the low-tide zone are always submerged. Plants and animals that live in-between in the mid-tide zone are exposed only for short periods. Tidepools are pockets of water left standing among the rocks after the tide has gone out. |