Chapter 1:

Question 1

Oceanography

Answer 1

The scientific study of all aspects of the marine environment.

Question 2

Geological Oceanography

Answer 2

The study of the structure of the sea floor and how the seafloor has changed through time; the creation of sea floor features; and the history of sediments deposited from the seafloor.

Question 3

Chemical Oceanography

Answer 3

Is the study of of the chemical composition and properties of sea water; how to extract certain chemicals from sea water; and the effects of pollutants.

Question 4

Physical Oceanography

Answer 4

is the study of waves, tides, and currents. the ocean-atmosphere relationship that influences weather and and climate; and the transmission of sound and heat in the oceans.

Question 5

Biological Oceanography

Answer 5

Is the study of the various life forms and their relationship to one another; adaptations to the marine environment; and developing sustainable methods of harvesting seafood.

Question 6

Pacific Ocean

Answer 6

World’s largest ocean.Makes up half of the entire ocean. Covers more than a third of Earth’s surface area and is the worlds largest single geographic structure. Named in 1520 by explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Question 7

Atlantic Ocean

Answer 7

Is half the size of the Pacific Ocean; separates the US from Eastern Europe. Named after Atlas one of the Titans from Greek Mythology.

Question 8

Indian Ocean

Answer 8

Slightly smaller than the Atlantic, and also has similar averages depths.Mostly in the southern hemisphere and was named for its proximity to India.

Question 9

How was protoearth different from Earth today?

Answer 9

protoearth was smaller, no habitable, homogeneous composition, and bombarded by meteorites.

Question 10

Lithosphere

Answer 10

relatively cool, rigid shell that includes Earth’s crust and the top part of the mantle. ~100 km (60 mi) thick

Question 11

Asthenosphere

Answer 11

this section is made up of flowing magma a.k.a molten rock and is plastic meaning it moves. ~62-430 miles deep.

Question 12

What is the difference between continental crust and oceanic crust?

Answer 12

Continental Crust- less dense/more thick (roughly 22 miles deep)
Oceanic Crust- more dense/less thick (roughly 5 miles deep)

Question 13

Where does the salt in the ocean come from?

Answer 13

The salinity is developed from dissolved rock elements.

Question 14

How old are the oldest fossils of living organisms?

Answer 14

Roughly 3.5 billion years ago

Question 15

Heterotrophs

Answer 15

earliest forms of life, and they require an external food source.

Question 16

Autotrophs

Answer 16

evolved later, and are self feeding.

Question 17

What are phyto-plankton and zoo-plankton

Answer 17

Both drift in the water and do not have the ability to swim so they are forced to drift along the current.
ZooPlankton- (mostly algae) they are autotrophic and feed themselves through photosynthesis.
Phytoplankton- are heterotrophic and require their own external food source.

Question 18

What are the two types of autotrophs

Answer 18

Chemo-synthetic (Hydrothermal Vents) and Photosythetic (turns suns radiation into sugar)

Question 19

How old is the Earth? and how do we know the age?

Answer 19

the Earth is roughly 4.6 billion years old. The radioactive decay of uranium gives us an accurate depiction of age.

Question 20

What is the Geologic Time Scale?

Answer 20

A chart showing the various periods of geological time from the origin of Earth to today.