Hydrosphere Flashcards
Why is water called a polar molecule?
Because it has a positive and a negative end
Why is water called the universal solvent?
Because water is polar, it dissolves many substances
Water molecules stick to other molecules
Adhesion
Water molecules stick together
Cohesion
Water molecules go from roots to leaves
Capillary action
Inward pull of surface water molecules creating a smooth sheet
Surface tension
Why does ice float in water?
Because they crystalize and spread out. They have a less density than water; therefore they float
What is the water cycle?
Continuous movement of water from the ocean to atmosphere to land then back to ocean.
What fuels the water cycle?
The sun
The process by which a liquid changes to a gas
Evaporation
The process of warm air cooling and it rises and releases moisture in the form of liquid.
Condensation
The rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls from clouds on to the earths lands and oceans
Precipitation
Precipitation that flows over land into streams and rivers, eventually flowing into oceans
Runoff
Precipitation transported underground
Groundwater
Water that seeps into rocks and between particles of soil on earth
Infiltration
Downward movement of water through soil due to gravity
Percolation
Water vapor given off by plants during photosynthesis
Transpiration
What 3 process can occur after precipitation?
Runoff, groundwater, or evaporation
How does water return to the water cycle after it has been trapped underground?
Transpiration
What is salinity?
Total amount of dissolved salt in a sample of water
Where does the salt in the ocean come from?
Volcanic activities
How does salinity affect the freezing point of water?
It lowers the freezing point
How does salinity affect the density of water?
It increases the density
What 2 dissolved gasses are found in the ocean?
Oxygen and carbon dioxide
What is a current?
A large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans
What is surface current? What causes it?
Surface current is a current running at the surface of the sea, and it is driven by winds
What is a deep current? What causes it?
Deep currents are currents running across the ocean floor, and it’s caused by difference in density
What is an upwelling? Why is it important?
The movement of cold water upward from the deep ocean along with nutrients for the plankton a up at the surface
The amount of heat needed to increase temperature; water has high ________
Specific heat
The area between the high and low tides, relatively warm, and diverse with animal life
Intertidal zone
Aka “coastal wonders” it’s from the low tide mark to the continental shelf, it is well oxygenated and good for fishing
Neritic zone
An area of 100% light penetration in the open ocean, has rays and jellyfishes
Sunlit zone
Aka “disphotic zone”, middle layer of open ocean, has pufferfish, squids, jellyfish, and more
Twilight zone
Central ocean, dark and cold, no light penetration, has giant squids and anglerfishes
Midnight zone
What is a hydrothermal vent? Where is it located?
The vents releases hot water (gas & chemicals) from the mid oceanic ridge n
What is an ocean trench
Canyons that include the oceans deepest points. Tectonic plate movements
An area where fresh water empties into an area with salt water. The salinity is lower than the ocean
Estuary
