Chapter 13 Oceans, Coastal Systems, & Wind Processes Flashcards
Five Oceans
Atlantic Pacific Indian Arctic Southern
Sea
Smaller than ocean associated with a continental landmass
Salinity
Concentration of dissolved solids
Physical Structure:
Mixing Zone
Surface layer; 2% of ocean mass
Physical Structure:
Thermocline Transition Zone
Temperature decreases with depth
18% of ocean mass
Physical Structure:
Deep Cold Zone
Coldest water along ocean bottom
80% of ocean mass
Human Impacts:
Ocean Acidification
Excess carbon dioxide absorbed by oceans
Human Impacts:
Pollution and Oil Spills
Largest oil spill in U.S.History
Gulf of Mexico, 2010
Contaminates aquatic organisms and wildlife
The Littoral Zone
Zone in which coastal systems operate
Shoreline
Line of contact with sea and
land
Coast
Edge of land
Erosional Coastal Landforms:
Sea Cliff
Formed by wave erosion; wave cut notch
Eventually collapse and retreat, causing mass movement
Erosional Coastal Landforms:
Wave-cut platform
Level ledge of rock found just below water level
Formed as headlands are eroded
Erosional Coastal Landforms:
Sea Caves/Sea Arches
Formed from more resistant rock as headlands erode
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Beaches
Narrow strip along coast formed from deposition carried by rivers
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Barrier Spit
Sand Spit
Material deposited in a long ridge extending out from coast
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Bay Barrier
Spit that encloses bay
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Lagoon
Shallow saltwater body cut off from ocean
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Tombolo
Spit that joins an island to the mainland
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Barrier Beaches
Long, narrow sand feature parallel to the coast
Coastal Depositional Landforms:
Barrier Islands
Broader, more extensive barrier beaches
Coral
A sea animal that secretes rock-like calcium carbonate
Coastal Wetlands:
Mangrove Swamps
- Grows in salty coastal regions
- Between 30° N and 30° S latitude
- Benefits
- Protects coastlines
- Supports sea life
- Absorbs carbon dioxide
Coastal Wetlands:
Salt Marshes
Consist of salt-tolerant plants
- Forms in estuaries/tidal mud flats behind
barrier beaches and spits
- Located at latitudes 30° and higher
Which zone is the upper portion or surface layer of an ocean or sea?
Mixing Zone
What is currently threatening mangrove swamps?
Shrimp and fish farms