Why can't photosynthesis occur in the deepest parts of the ocean or a deep lake?

Question

Why can't photosynthesis occur in the deepest parts of the ocean or a deep lake?

Answer 1

no light

Answer 2

Photons are slowed by matter density.  The mass of water increases with it's volume and becomes more dense.  Therefore the light just can't reach that far because it had been bent and thinned too many times.

Answer 3

Simply put photosynthesis cannot occur in the deepest parts of the ocean (trenches and abyssal plains) or in the deepest lakes because as light passes through liquid water, the light becomes increasingly scattered the deeper it penetrates.

Light exists as both a wave and an elementary particle called a photon, as these photons pass through liquid water, the individual water molecules interact with some of the photons cause them to either reflect or refract, the deeper the light has to travel the more photons are reflected or refracted away until it reaches the border of the aphotic zone - the part where no light is present - at approximately 4.6km (this is variable as other factors such as seasons and turbidity can effect the depth of the border).

Since there is no light photosynthesis cannot occur as photons are required to break the bonds in carbon dioxide and water to from glucose (essentially the plant's food), oxygen and water.

However certain flora and fauna do exist in the aphotic zone, deriving sustenance from other sources such as carrion falling from shallower levels and chemicals (such as sulfur) released from volcanic black smokers.

Answer 4

because light refracts when it hits the water, so it does not go straight down to the bottom. therefore, there is no light in the depths of the ocean or lake. Photo = light... so without light there can be no photosynthesis

Answer 5

no sun light can reach

Answer 6

Well, if you think about it, there is so much stuff in the ocean that the light required for photosynthesis can not possibly reach the target, especially if it on the bottom of the ocean.  They use more chemical reactions of some sort, I can not remember the term...

Answer 7

Photosynthesis requires sunlight.

Answer 8

Photo synthesis - production of something from light.

If you go somewhere where there is no light, you can't have photosynthesis.

It would be like trying to start a campfire without any fuel.