blue planet Flashcards
oceans location
pacific (left to america) atlantic (middle of america and africa) antarctic (top of globe) indian( in between africa and australia) southern( bottom of globe)
why is the ocean important to the environment
The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen
absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.
Covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface
the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.
how do we use the ocean
allows humans to trade
gives many of us jobs in fisheries, trade, shipping, tourism and travel.
a source of minerals, energy resources, and medicines.
It provides us with the opportunity for ocean sports and activities.
how are we harming the ocean
overfishing habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species ocean pollution ocean acidification ocean warming.
tsunamis
series of ocean waves caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. More rarely, a tsunami can be generated by a giant meteor impact with the ocean.
These waves can reach heights of over 100 ft.
Japanese tsunami 2011
what is an ocean current ?
how do they flow
the continuous, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind and water density.
flow horizontally and vertically.
mid ocean ridge
seafloor mountain system formed by plate tectonics.
coral reef
a ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral.
ocean trench
a long, narrow, deep depression in the ocean bed,
typically one running parallel to a plate boundary and marking a subduction zone.
how are oceans linked to the global water cycle
provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents.
