Exam 1 Flashcards
t
the number of ________ defines the element
protons
t
the _____ _____ is defined by the number of protons in an element
atomic #
t
what is the equation for the atomic mass #
of protons + # of neutrons
t
atoms with specific combination of protons and neutrons
nuclides
t
same element, different mass numbers
isotopes
t
unstable nuclei that spontaneously release particles and/or change into another element
radioactive nuclides
t
do not undergo observable radioactive decay
stable nuclides
t
what are the three unifying chemical principles in oceanography
atoms cannot be creased or destroyed (Conservation of mass), some processes are possible, others unlikely (thermodynamics), all processes take time to happen (Chemical kinetics)
t
________ of chemicals at each place in the ocean are complete records of their histories (within uncertainty)
abundances
t
what are the 3 things atoms can do?
move (to different places), transform (interact and combine/react with other atoms in definite proportions and geometries, interact with their environment (absorb and scatter energy)
t
what are the 3 ways that atoms MOVE from place to place
advection, diffusion, sinking/rising
t
move with water . solutes carries by currents
advection
t
move through water. from regions of high to low concentration. generally much slower than advection
diffusion
t
moving through water. denser things sink, buoyant things rise. Generally, MUCH faster than advection
sinking/rising
t
during advection solutes move ______- water
with
t
in diffusion, particles move _____ water
through
t
when particles are sinking/rising they _____ ______ water
moving through
t
homogeneous mixtures
solutions
t
how densely populated a chemical substance is in a mixture
concentration
t
a measure of salt concentration in seawater
salinity
t
what is Marcets Principle ?
ratios between the amounts of the major ions in the waters of the open ocean are nearly constant
t
seawater is generally ________
unreactive
t
how do we observe chemicals in the ocean (3s’s)
satellites ( surface) , sensors (anywhere), samples )collecting atoms, anywhere)
t
depth profiles are a graph of
property vs depth
t
a contour plot is a graph of
property vs area
t
ocean section is a graph of
property over area
t
when making an ocean section graph, you cruise across the ocean and ______ ____ _____ along the way, and plot them at each location
take depth profiles
t
wind velocity is influenced by how many factors
4
t
what are the four factors the influence wind velocity
buoyancy, pressure gradient force, friction, coriolis force
t
air becomes more buoyant when it is _______ than the surrounding air
hotter and/or more humid
t
explain why humid air is less dense
water has a lower molar mass of air and when humid, it displaces some of the heavier gasses making moist air less dense
t
air accelated from regions of _____- to _____ pressure
high to low
t
when are there stronger winds
pressure difference is larger and/or distance smaller between the two places (when isobars are closer)
t
transfers energy from wind to surfaces, causing winds to slow near earths surface
friction
t
pushes winds 90 to the right in the northern hemisphere and 90 to the left in southern hemisphere
coriolis effect
t
which way does the coriolis effect push winds in the N hemisphere
right
t
which way does the coriolis effect push winds in the southern hemisphere
left
t
when is the coriolis effect stronger
winds are faster, closer to the poles, faster planetary rotation rate
t
why is there no coriolis effect on the equator?
there is no curving of the objects path, straight line , so no coriolis effect
t
what are the 4 simplifed steps to general circulation of lower atmosphere
- Earth is mostly a closed system with respect to matter, but not to energy
- Earths surfaces heated unevenly, more strongly near the equator
3.Equatorial air rises to stable altitude (less dense) - surrounding surface air replaces “void”
t
where are hadley cells
tropics
t
air rises and cools near the equator
hadley cells
t
what latitudes do hadley cells run from
30N to 30S
t
the hadley cells create this zone
intertropical convergence zone
t
after the air rises and cools near the equator the high air is now ______ and spreads poleward and ______
dry eastward
t
hadley cells make what winds by moving surface air to the equator
trade winds
t
there are major _______ where hadley cell air descends, dries, compresses, and thereby warms
deserts
t
where do the polar cells lie
60N and 60S
t
cold air cools and ____ near polls, spreads equatorward creating surface Polar Easterlies winds
sinks
t
ferrel cells
60-30N 30-60s
t
_____ cells depend on Polar and Hadley cells
ferrel
t
surface winds and storms move from __ _ ___, creating the prevailing westerlies
west to east
t
wind driven waves and currents
friction
t
winds “____” water via friction
drag
t
Winds drag water, but coriolis causes NET movement in upper ~100m of water to move 90right in NH and 90left in SH
ekman transport
t
if winds push surface water away from coast, deeper water rises to replace it
upwelling
t
if winds push water towards coast, the water pile up nearshore and sinks to deep sea (pressure pushes it down)
downwelling
t
what are the 3 important features of major surface currents
western boundary currents, gyres, and antarctic circumpolar current
t
major surface currents flow _________ in the northern hemisphere
clockwise
t
major surface currents flow ________ in the southern hemisphere
counterclockwise
t
changing temperature and or salinity changes __________
buoyancy
t
lines of constant density
isopycnal
t
seawater can become denser due to
cooling, evaporation (increasing salinity), cabbeling
t
mixing of two waters with the sae density but different temperature and salinity can yield a denser solution
cabbeling
t
N Atlantic is _____ salty than the N Pacific
more
t
why is the N atlantic saltier than the N pacific
N atlantic gyre is sunny and swept by dry trade winds from Sahara, water evaporated from the gyre carried to Pacific
t
the cooling salty water in the north atlantic is sufficiently dense due to
downwelling
t
band of continent free sea surface and cold strong winds
southern ocean
t
the southern ocean is a major site of ____ ____ _________
deep water formation
t
explain how north atlantic deep water forms
warm salty gulf stream moves north, cools, gets denser and sinks (downwells)
t
how is atarctic bottom water and -intermediate water made
wind driven upwelling intensely mixing waters vertically around antarctica; seaice formation makes residual water denser, sinks
t
wind driven upwelling intensely mixes waters vertically around antarctica: sea ice formation makes residual water denser, sinks
antarctic bottom water and antarctic intermediate water
