Introduction to the Oceans Flashcards
What is the maximum depth of the ocean?
10,900m.
Which ocean is the deepest and takes up the most area?
Pacific.
Which is ocean is the shallowest and takes up the least area?
Arctic.
Describe the ocean floor levels and their order.
Continental shelf > Continental slope (major drop) > Continental rise (smaller drop) > Abyssal plain (bottom).
What area of the ocean is taken up by the continental shelf and what is its maximum width?
- 7-8% of ocean area
- 400km max width.
What minor ions make up seawater composition and what percentage of the seawater to they make up?
- 0.71%
- bicarbonate, bromide, boric acid, strontium metals, nutrients, gases, organic compounds.
Which three ions make up the bulk of seawater and by how much?
- Chlorine 55.04%
- Sodium 30.61%
- Sulphate 7.69%.
What is the average salinity of the ocean?
35 approx.
What is the pH range of the ocean?
7.5 -8.4.
Below what depth does the salinity of the ocean typically remain constant?
2000m.
How does carbon dioxide and nutrient levels vary with increasing ocean depth?
Increase.
How does sea surface oxygen vary with latitude?
Mid-latitudes have least oxygen, polar regions have most.
What is the order of the ocean depth zones from shallowest to deepest?
Epipelagic > mesopelagic > bathypelagic > abyssopelagic > hadopelagic.
What is the depth range of the epipelagic zone?
0 - 200m.
What is the depth range of the mesopelagic zone?
200 - 1000m.
