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Oceanography > exam 1 > Flashcards

exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

We can learn about the ocean using data collected by satellites in space.

A

True

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2
Q

Early Polynesians only traveled within sight of land.

A

False

traveled as early as 1100 B.C.

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3
Q

1 km = 100 m

A

Flase

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4
Q

Scientific method

A

Curiosity, observation and measurement, hypothesis, Experimentation, observation, models, and theory

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5
Q

deepest part of the ocean

A 
Mariana trench
located in pacific ocean
6.85 miles
Trieste (us navy) 1960
Deep sea challenger
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6
Q

The ocean provides how much of the oxygen we breathe?

A

70% of oxygen

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7
Q

What is the freezing point of pure water in degrees Celsius?

A

O

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8
Q

What percent of the Earth is covered by the ocean?

A

70.8%

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9
Q

subversives and ROVs

A

Trieste (US navy)
Deep sea challenger
Jason
Alvin

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10
Q

nebular hypothesis

A

all bodies in our solar system formed from a huge cloud of gas and dust mainly composed of hydrogen

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11
Q

big bang theory

A

space and time started when
all matter and energy in the universe expanded
from a single point in a cosmic explosion.
• Universe still expanding – measured
with Hubble Space Telescope.
• Approximately 14 billion years old.

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12
Q

Formation of Earths atomsphere

A

initial atmosphere blown away by solar wind

second atmosphere produced by outgassing

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13
Q

formation of oceans

A

outgassing
earth cooled water vapor condensed and rained down on Earth
4 billion years ago

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14
Q

early life

A

3.5 billion years old
hypothesis include
1. Life originated around hydrothermal vents in deep
ocean.
2. Life originated deep below Earth’s surface.
3. Life may have arrived on comets.

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15
Q

Stanley Miller’s experiment

A 
1952 development of life on Earth.
Exposed a mixture of gases and water to
ultraviolet light and sparks.
Organic molecules (amino acids) formed.
Showed that vast amounts of organic
molecules could have been formed in
Earth’s early Oceans.
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16
Q

Heterotrophs

A

First forms of life.
External food supply.
Energy from breaking down organic molecules in
primordial soup.

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17
Q

Autotrophs

A

Make their own food
evolved later than heterotrophs
Anaerobic- bacteria (chemosynthesis)

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18
Q

Photosynthetic

A

autotrophs: Chlorophyll captures
solar energy – led to aerobic (use oxygen)
organisms and extinction of many anaerobic
organisms

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19
Q

Great oxidation Event

A

2 billion years ago
photosynthetic bacteria releases oxygen to atmosphere
oxidized rocks
ozone builds up
protected earth from UV radiation
Cyanobacteria- earliest aerobic autotrophs

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20
Q

Water: Electrical Polarity

A

Both hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the oxygen atom.
Slight negative charge on the side of oxygen atoms
slight positive charge on the side of hydrogen atoms
Charge seperation = electrical polarity
arranged according to polarity

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21
Q

dipolar

A

water

has a positively charged end and a negative end

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22
Q

hydrogen bonds

A

attraction between hydrogen and oxygen atoms
weaker than covalent bonds with a single water molecule
strong enough to cause cohesion

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23
Q

Cohesion

A

causes water to stick to itself and have surface tension

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24
Q

water thermal properties

A

Add or remove energy
To change the state of a substance, the forces
that cause molecules to be attracted to each
other must be broken.
Van der Waals forces

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25
Q

Calorie

A

amount of heat required to raise the

temperature of 1 g of liquid water by 1 ºC.

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26
Q

Heat

A

total energy of molecules
Heat may be generated through chemical reactions
such as combustion, from friction or from radioactive
decay.

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27
Q

Temperature

A

measure of the average
kinetic (moving) energy of the molecules that
make up a substance.
Temperature changes on the addition or removal of
heat energy to a substance.

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28
Q

Solid (ice)

A

water has rigid structure and does
not flow. Intermolecular bonds are constantly
breaking and reforming as molecules vibrate, but
molecules remain in fixed positions.

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29
Q

Liquid (water)

A

Water molecules still interact with
one another but have enough kinetic energy to
break bonds and flow.

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30
Q

Gas (water vapor)

A

molecules have enough
kinetic energy to fully overcome intermolecular
bonds and do not interact except during collisions.

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31
Q

Heat Capacity

A

amount of heat required to raise
the temperature of 1 gram of any substance 1o C.
Water has a high heat capacity because of hydrogen bonds
rocks and metals have a low heat capacity

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32
Q

Latent heat of melting

A

energy required to
break intermolecular bonds between ice
molecules to form water; 80 cal g-1

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33
Q

Latent heat of vaporization

A

energy required
to be added at the boiling point of water to break
the intermolecular bonds and change the state
from a liquid to vapor; 540 cal g-1
identical to the
latent heat of condensation.

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34
Q

Latent heat of condensation

A

occurs when
water vapor cools sufficiently to condense;
condensation releases energy which can power
thunderstorms and hurricanes.

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35
Q

Latent heat of freezing

A

Heat released when
liquid water freezes
identical to latent heat of melting

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36
Q

Latent heat of evaporization

A

conversion of liquid to

gas below its boiling point is called evaporation

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37
Q

Global thermostatic effects

A

moderate changes in
temperature and drive Earth’s climate, making life possible.
Heat energy is removed from low latitudes and
added to the heat-deficient high latitudes
Mariner- temp. of land moderated by proximity to ocean
Continental- larger fluctuations less influenced by ocean

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38
Q

evaporation condensation cycle

A

Energy from sun stored in the ocean.
Evaporation removes heat from ocean transferred to
atmosphere.
Water vapor condenses in cooler, higher air to form clouds
and precipitation which

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39
Q

salinity

A

is the ratio of the mass of dissolved
substances to the mass of the water sample
does not include fine particles in suspension or dissolved organic substances

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40
Q

Brackish water

A

where seawater mixes with freshwater (e.g. rivers, rain). Baltic Sea only 10
‰ due to inputs from rivers.

41
Q

Hypersaline

A

occurs where mixing with the open ocean is restricted or absent and
evaporation rates are high. Red Sea has an
average salinity of 42 ‰

42
Q

Decrease salinity

A

Precipitation (rain/snow)
Runoff (river flow)
Melting icebergs
Melting sea ice

43
Q

Increase Salinity

A

Evaporation

Formation of sea ice

44
Q

Water density

A

how tightly the molecules or ions of a substance are packed together
pressure, salinity, and temperature effect density
density increases as temperature increases
increases due to thermal contraction
From 4 ºC to 0 ºC water’s density decreases

45
Q

Density and depth

A

caused a layered ocean
pycnocline- change of density with depth
thermocline- change of temperature with depth

46
Q

declination

A

angular distance from the sun

47
Q

Albedo

A

% of radiation reflected back into space from Earth’s surface, average about 30 %. More at high latitudes as ice more reflective.

48
Q

uneven heating of the earths sun

A

area light covers
how much atmosphere pass through
albedo
angle of sun relative to sea surface

49
Q

Troposphere

A 
lower portion of the
atmosphere, which extends to an altitude
of about 12 km
all weather produced here
temp cools with altitude
50
Q

water vapor

A

Water vapor decreases the density of air as

water vapor has a lower density than dry air

51
Q

wind

A

the movement of air from high pressure to low pressure

52
Q

Hadley cells

A

greater heating of the atmosphere over
the equator causes the air to warm and expand.
It rises and cools.

53
Q

Ferrel cell

A

between 30 and 60 degrees
latitude. Ferrel cell not solely driven by
differences in solar heating, if they were they
would circulate in opposite direction.

54
Q

Polar cell

A

between 60 and 90 degrees

latitude. Cold air sinks over poles

55
Q

Descending columns of cool air produce high pressure

A

Subtropical highs – high pressure zones descending air at
latitudes of 30º north and south.
Polar highs – high pressure zones of descending air at the
poles.
Dry, clear, fair weather under highs

56
Q

rising columns of low density, warm air produce low pressure

A

Equatorial low – low pressure zones due to rising air.
Subpolar low – low pressure zones due to rising air at latitudes
of 60º north and south.Rising air cools and cannot hold its water vapor so cloudy
weather and lots of precipitation under lows

57
Q

Wind belts

A

Air movement from the subtropical highs to the
equatorial low constitute the trade winds.
northern hemisphere- northeast trade winds
southern hemisphere- southeast trade winds

58
Q

Coriolis effect

A

causes moving objects on earth to follow
curved paths
caused by earths rotation to the east
northern hemisphere will move to the right
southern hemisphere will move to the left

59
Q

factors that effect idealized pattern

A
  1. The seasons (produced by the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis).
  2. Lower heat capacity of continental rock compared to the ocean.
  3. Uneven distribution of continents and ocean across the earth’s
    surface
60
Q

Weather

A

describes conditions of the atmosphere at a given time and place

61
Q

climate

A

the long term average weather

62
Q

Tropical cyclones

A 
largest storm systems on earth
large rotating mass of low pressure breaks away from the equatorial low pressure belt and grow picking up energy from the warm ocean
hurricane in SA
typhoons in N pacific
Cyclones- Indian ocean
latent heat of condensation
63
Q

ocean currents

A

follow same patter as wind belt

transport nutrients to surface water and oxygen to deep water

64
Q

surface currents

A 
affected by the movement
of air, particularly wind belts, over the surface of
the ocean.
 Run near surface and are horizontal
currents. 
Wind driven.
above pycnocline
land, friction, Coriolis effect effects direction of flow
65
Q

Deep curretns

A

temperature and salinity
changes at surface cause high-density water to
form, which sinks.
Dense water spreads
beneath the surface, causing deep currents.
These currents have vertical motion.
Density driven.

66
Q

Direct methods for measuring currents

A

floating device dropped into current and tracked through time. or measure a fixed position
drift meter or float meter

67
Q

Indirect methods for measuring currents

A

Radar altimeters- satellites used to make topography maps
deep flow meters- low frequency sounds backscattered by particles in water
tilt current meter- angle of stick to determine speed

68
Q

Ekman spiral ???

A

Fridtjof Nansen- Arctic ice moved
Walfrid Ekman- Spiral explained observation
describes speed and direction of flow of surface waters at various depth
in N surface water moves in a direction 45º

69
Q

Subtropical gyers

A

Large, circular-moving loops of water driven by the major wind belts.
rotate clockwise N
counter clockwise S
center at latitude 30 N or S
N Atlantic gyre, S Atlantic Gyre, N Pacific Gyre, S Pacific Gyre, Indian Ocean Gyre.

70
Q

Main currents of subtropical gyers

A

Equatorial
Western Boundary
Norther or Southern boundary
Eastern boundary

71
Q

equatorial currents

A

trade winds set water in motion in the tropics
flow westward parallel to equator
form N or S boundary of subtropical gyres

72
Q

Western boundary currents

A

equatorial currents meets the land on the
western side of an ocean basin.
CE deflects currents away from equator
found in western side of ocean basin (east on map)
carry water to higher latitudes
form western boundary of subtropical gyres

73
Q

Norther or Southern Boundary Currents

A

between 30 and 60º latitude the prevailing
westerlies direct water from west to east across
an ocean basin.
Northern boundary currents – in Northern
Hemisphere comprise the northern parts of subtropical gyres.
Southern boundary currents – in Southern
Hemisphere these currents form the southern part of subtropical gyres.

74
Q

Eastern boundary currents

A

currents are turned by the Coriolis effect and land barriers towards the equator.
Occur on the eastern boundary of ocean basins
(west on map).
Carry cool water from high latitudes towards
equator.
Form eastern boundaries of subtropical gyres.

75
Q

Western intensification of subtropical gyres

A

Wester boundary currents don’t turn until they hit land, faster, deep, narrrow
boundary currents of all subtropical gyres are western intensified
eastern boundary currents turn before they hit land.

76
Q

Equatorial concurrents

A

This water ‘piles’ up on the westward margins of the ocean, not turned by CE
Sea levels are 2 m higher on W side
water flows east under influence of gravity

77
Q

Subpolar gyers

A

rotate opposite direction to subtrop. gyres in that hemisphere
fewer sub polar

78
Q

Gulf stream

A

is a western boundary current, so it is subject to western intensification
50-75 km wide fastest currents in the ocean

79
Q

warm core rings

A

Clockwise rotating Sargasso Sea water

1-100 km deep

80
Q

Cold core rings

A

Counterclockwise rotating cold water which spins into the Sargasso Sea
3.5-500 km deep

81
Q

Upwelling

A

vertical movement of water to the surface.
Water usually cold, rich in nutrients
primary production- provides food for other organisms
Equatorial upwelling common in pacific

82
Q

Downwelling

A

vertical movement of water to deeper parts
of the ocean.
low primary productivity. carries oxygen from surface water to the deep.
surface waters move towards each other

83
Q

Coastal upwelling

A

Wind from the N along W coast affect upwelling
Water carried to right by Ekman moves away from shore
cooling effect

84
Q

Coastal downwelling

A

Wind from S blowing
along W coast affects
downwelling.
Water carried to right by Ekman moves toward shore

85
Q

Deep ocean currents

A

below pycnocline
moves large volumes of water very slowly
thermohaline circulation- density differences that cause deep circulation caused by density and salinity
Temp-salinity- identify water masses salinity, temp, and density

86
Q

Ocean waves

A

movement of air across the sea surface causes wave to form along the air-water interface

87
Q

Atmospheric waves

A

movement of different air masses along an air-air interface.
Common along cold
fronts.

88
Q

internal wave

A

movement of water of different densities creates internal waves.
travel along the pycnocline.
larger than surface waves
caused by turbidity currents, tides, wind stress, ships passing over the surface

89
Q

progressive waves

A

simple waves that travel without breaking

longitudinal, transversal , or orbital

90
Q

longitudinal waves

A

‘push-pull waves’. Particles vibrate in the same direction and back again as the energy is traveling.

91
Q

transversal waves

A

‘side to side waves.’ Energy travels at right angles to the vibration of the particles.
generally occur in solids

92
Q

orbital

A

waves on the surface

longitudinal and transverseal

93
Q

wave height

A

vertical distance between crest and trough

94
Q

wave length

A

horizontal distance between successive crest or trough

95
Q

wave steepness

A

ratio of wave H to wave L
H/L
if it exceeds 1/7 then the wave will break

96
Q

Wave period (T)

A

time it takes for one complete wave to pass a fixed position

97
Q

Frequency (F)

A

the number of wave crests passing a fixed position per unit time
1/T

98
Q

Circular orbital motion

A

Water molecules transmit the wave energy but move in a circle and end up roughly where they started
object floating have a
diameter equal to the wave height
Wave base is half of the wavelength

99
Q

factors affecting wave energy

A

wind speed
wind duration- length of time the wind blows
fetch- distance which the wind blows in one direction

Oceanography (1 decks)

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