How Are The Atmosphere And Oceans Connected

Question 1

What are factors affecting global climate?

Answer 1

Latitude, altitude
Ocean currents distributing heat around the world
Winds drive surface currents- influencing the climate of coastal locations (such as the Gulf Stream)

Question 2

What is ocean acidification?

Answer 2

As carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolve in the oceans, carbon monoxide is produced, making them more acidic

Question 3

What are some impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs?

Answer 3

Coral bleaching, can kill coral as they would be more liable to infectious disease, species may face extinction due to a loss of habitat, change in the distribution of sea life

Question 4

Steps of the carbon cycles (carbon going into the atmosphere)

Answer 4

• Burning fossil fuels and cement production
• changing how land is used through deforestation, fires or agriculture
• rivers transport carbon from rock and soil erosion to the ocean, where some of it is released back into the atmosphere

Question 5

What are the steps of the carbon cycle (carbon going into the ocean/plants?

Answer 5

• plants and soils absorb and release carbon over their life, but overall, they take carbon out of the atmosphere
• photosynthesis by plankton in the ocean - absorbs current
• the ocean and the atmosphere exchange gases at the surface, leading to an overall absorption of carbon
• Some of the carbon is transported to the deep ocean to form sediments

Question 6

How is the ocean like a carbon sink?

Answer 6

Ocean circulation transports carbon into the deep ocean, allowing the surface to take up more carbon

Question 7

What are bathymetric maps?

Answer 7

A type of map that depicts the depth and shape of the underwater environment.

Question 8

What are isobar maps?

Answer 8

These show the atmospheric pressure using isobars

Question 9

What is thermohaline circulation?

Answer 9

The balance between temperature and salinity that drives ocean circulation