Marine Ecology Flashcards
What is an ocean gyre
In oceanography, a gyre is any large system of circulating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large win movements
What is an ocean current
A continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by a number of forces acting upon the water, including wind, the Coriolis effect, tides and temperature and salinity differences.
What direction do trade winds move in
From east to west towards the equator (because of how Earth rotates on its axis).
Predominantly from northeast northern hemisphere to south east Southern Hemisphere.
Begin when warm air at equator rises and cool air at the poles sinks.
They strengthen during the winter and when artic oscillation is in its warm phase, due to surface pressure.
Where is the main thermocline located
Between the warm and cold layers.
Divides the upper mixed layer from the calm deep layer below.
Where does the North Atlantic deep water form
Between Iceland and Greenland and flows southward at intermediate depths.
What factors makes water sink
Decreased temperature and increased salinity resulting in increased density.
What is thermocline circulation
Involves the flow of warm surfaces from the Southern Hemisphere to the North Atlantic. The northward flowing water evaporates and mixes with other water masses leading to increased salinity.
Units salinity is commonly expressed in
Parts per thousand
Practical salinity units
Units for the amount of negative or positive charge per unit volume
Eq L^-1
How many micromoles are there in a mole
1,000,000
How many micromoles are there in a mmole
1,000
Which elements are likely to limit phytoplankton growth in the sea
Nitrogen and phosphorous
What is the main reason for the oxygen minimum zone
Decomposition of sinking organic matter is high
Water exchange is low
Overall charge of seawater
Neutral
