Hydrosphere Flashcards
Describe and draw the hydrological cycle on Earth, and how does it maintain a closed system?
It is a continuous movement of water between the sea, the atmosphere and the land
Closed system – no water lost or gained
What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by water, and what are the proportions of saltwater and freshwater?
70 % is covered
saltwater – 97,47%
freshwater – 2,53%
Describe the various stages of the hydrological cycle, including precipitation, condensation, evaporation, transpiration, and evapotranspiration.
Precipitation - any form of water falling from the atmosphere to the ground
Condensation – the process of changing from gas to water
Evaporation – the transformation of water liquid to gas as it moves from the ground or water into the atmosphere
Transpiration – the release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere
Evapotranspiration – evaporation + transpiration
What is the significance of the World Ocean, and how does it connect all oceans and seas?
World ocean – all oceans and seas – one continuous body of water
It connects the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans
Highlight some intriguing facts about the oceans, including the largest ocean, the deepest known area, and the percentage of oxygen produced.
largest ocean- Pacific ocean
the deepest known area – Mariana Trench 11km deep
the percentage of oxygen produced – 70%
How can seas be classified based on their position, and what are examples of each type?
Nearly closed sea – reach deeply into cintinents. The Mediterranean Sea, The Baltic sea
Partly enclosed seas – sea of Okhotsk The North sea
Archipelago seas - located between islands. South China seam Sulu sea
Hypersaline lakes – The Caspian sea, the Dead sea
What distinguishes hypersaline lakes from other types of seas, and what are some examples?
Were part of prehistoric oceans or seas but now they have a blocked access to the larger bodies of water - They are completely surrounded by land
They have extremeky high salt levels
The Caspian Sea, The Dead sea
How much of the world’s oceans have we explored, and what implications does this have for our understanding of marine environments?
We have explored about 5 % of the worlds oceans
The oceans are home to a rich diversity of life, including countless species. By exploring new areas, we can discover new species
Helped us understand Earth’s climate temperature distribution, ocean currents
What are the primary physical and chemical features of seawater, and how do they influence its characteristics?
Temperature - temperature influences ocean circulation and weather patterns
salinity - what amount of minerals (salts) 1 kg of sea water contains
color – it influences the look of the water
Describe the temperature variations within ocean water, including average temperatures, extremes, and factors affecting temperature distribution.
Average water temperature is 4°C
The bottom of the deepest areas in all the oceans the temperature is about 2°C
The highest temperature of the sea water is in the Indian Ocean
Factor affecting – latitude, wind patterns
Define salinity in seawater and explain how it is measured. Provide examples of regions with high and low salinity.
Salinity – what amount of minerals (salts) 1 kg of sea water contains
Measured in parts per thousand – per mile ‰
Salinity is lower around the Equador – heavy rainfalls
The higher figures of salinity occur in hot and dry climate – evaporation
Discuss the factors influencing the color of seawater and how they contribute to variations in its appearance.
In general, basic water colour is blue, Some water can have shades of green, brown, white-grey
It depends on the distance from land, the depth of water, its temperature, the environment it is in, kind of material concentrated in
relief, including continental shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plains, ocean ridges, and trenches.
Continental shelf - an area closest to land and up to 200 m below the water
Continental slope - begins at the outer edges of the continental shelf, considerably steep area
Continental rise – part which continues gently downward, it is covered by a mud and sand
Abbysal plains - huge areas of the ocean floor at a depth of 4000 m or more – very flat
Ocean ridges - undersea mountains
Ocean trenches - the deepest parts of the ocean floor
What are ocean currents, and how do they contribute to the movement of seawater? Discuss the factors driving ocean currents and provide examples of warm and cold currents.
Ocean currents - constant moving system of deep-ocean circulation
driven by temperature – drives the ocean currents because temperature differences between water masses
salinity - Areas with higher salinity tend to have denser water, which can sink. Areas with lower salinity have less dense water which moves towards areas of higher salinity.
wind - wind sets the water in motion
WARM OCEAN CURRENTS –the Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio Current
COLD OCEAN CURRENTS –the West Wind Drift, the Humbolt Current
Explain the significance of the Gulf Stream, including its origin, path, and effects on weather patterns and coastal temperatures.
A warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the eastern coast of North America before crossing the Atlantic Ocean toward Western Europe
influences weather patterns and helps moderate temperatures in coastal areas
It keeps temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
