E.1 Earth Systems, Structures & Processes Flashcards
the tendency of water to stick to other substances
Adhesion
the ability of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object that is immersed in the fluid
Buoyancy
the process that moves water through a narrow porous space
Capillary Action
the attractive force between water molecules
Cohesion
the force that acts on the particles at the surface of a material
Surface Tension
the process of warm air cooling as it rises and releasing moisture in the form of a liquid
Condensation
the process by which a liquid is changed into a vapor from the surface by gaining energy
Evaporation
water located below Earth’s surface in aquifers
groundwater
the portion of the Earth that contains water; all the water on the earth
Hydrosphere
does not allow water to move through
Impermeable
water that seeps into rocks and between particles of soil; see percolation
Infiltration
the downward movement of water through pores and other spaces in soil due to gravity
Percolation
having pores or openings that allow water (or other liquids) to flow through them
permeable
the rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls from clouds onto the Earth’s land and oceans
Precipitation
is precipitation that flows over land into streams and rivers.
Runoff
water found on the surface of the Earth
Surface Water
water vapor given off by plant photosynthesis via water vapor through the pores in the leaves (stomata)
Transpiration
an underground layer of rock or soil that holds water
Aquifer
a well in which water rises because of pressure within aquifer from water above
Artesian Well
a long period of scarce rainfall
Drought
For Raleigh -the Neuse River Basin
Ecological Address
a large mass of moving ice and snow on land
Glaciers
the study of water
Hydrology
a glacier forming on an extensive area of relatively level land and flowing outward from its center; ex. Greenland or Antarctica
Icecaps
a large floating mass of freshwater ice detached from a glacier
Icebergs
a man made lake that stores water for human use
Reservoir
the region of land drained by a large river and its tributaries
River Basin
the land area that supplies water to a river system from smaller areas
Watershed
land area that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of the year
Wetland
the change in depth of the ocean due to the moon’s and sun’s gravitational pull of the water on earth
Tides
a disturbance in ocean water caused by wind
Ocean Wave
a seismic sea wave
Tsunami
a circulation or movement of water due to the winds; warm or cool
Surface Current
an underwater circulation or movement of water due to changes in the water’s density (salinity; temperature); cold
Deep Current
the movement of water (a river of water and sand) parallel to the beach caused by waves striking the beach at an angle
longshore current/drift
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfzAeQXhSGk
the quick movement of water offshore due to a break in an offshore sandbar; caused many swimmers to drown each year
Rip Current or Rip Tide
mostly flat portion of ocean floor which provides a home to a variety of unique organisms that are adapted to the extreme conditions of this habitat
abyssal plain
lowest layer of the ocean, where light does not reach.
Aphotic Zone (a-photic = no-light)
organisms that live on or in the ocean floor.
Benthos
the production of non-thermal light by creatures’ converting chemical energy to light energy to lure prey, attract a mate, or assist in keeping like species together. An estimated 75 percent of benthic creatures glow
Bioluminescence
extends from the edge of the continent outward to where the bottom sharply drops off into a steep slope.
Continental Shelf
the steep incline between the continental shelf and the abyssal plain.
Continental Slope
body of water where a river meets the ocean
Estuary
the area that lies between the low-tide and the high-tide line.
Intertidal Zone
a chain of undersea mountains that circles the earth through every ocean at diverging tectonic plate boundaries
Mid-Ocean Ridge
free-swimming organisms whose movements are independent of the tides, currents, and waves.
Nekton
the first 200 meters (656 feet) of ocean water, which includes the seashore and most of the continental shelf.
Neritic Zone
extends from 200 meters (656 feet) deep all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.
Oceanic Zone
the deepest parts of the ocean
Ocean trench
The deepest one is the Marianas Trench (located in the South Pacific Ocean - almost 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) deep.
the top layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, above 200 meters
Photic Zone
the plant and algae component of the plankton; the primary producers of most ocean food webs
Phytoplankton
the amount of dissolved solids in seawater approximately 35 parts per thousand
Salinity
the upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper, cold and usually nutrient-rich waters, especially along some shores, due to the offshore movement of surface waters
Upwelling
a device used to determine depth by sound waves.
Echo sounder
a unit of measure for ocean depth. This unit is 6 feet (1.83 meters).
Fathom
the study and exploration of the world’s ocean.
Oceanography
unmanned submersible tethered to a mother ship and operated by pilots using a joy stick.
ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)
device that allows divers to breathe underwater for long periods of time.
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (Scuba)
used to measure ocean depth by sending sound to bounce off the ocean floor
SONAR - SOund NAvigationRanging
a small submarine used to explore the ocean depths; equipped with windows, lights, mechanical arms, cameras and other scientific instruments capable of seeing and recording data
Submersible
