ocean Flashcards
Salinity
a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid
surface zone
restricts the display of surface models and their caps to zones around selected atoms or markers
Thermocline
a steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures.
deep zone
extending or situated relatively far down from a surface.
water cycle
the continuous movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean
Evaporation
the sun heats liquid water, causing it to rise into the atmosphere as water vapor
Condensation
as water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools and interacts with dust and particles
Precipitation
when water droplets become heavy enough, they fall back to earths surface
continental shelf
the gently sloping section of the continental margin located between the shoreline and the continental slope
continental slope
the steeply inclined section of the continental margin located between the continental rise and the continental shelf
continental rise
the gently sloping section of the continental margin located between the continental slope and the abyssal plain
abyssal plain
a large, flat, almost level area of the deep-ocean basin
mid ocean ridge
a long, undersea mountain chain that forms along the floor of the major oceans
rift valley
a long, narrow valley that forms as tectonic plates seperate
sea mount
a submerged mountain on the ocean floor that is at least 1,000 m high and that has a volcanic origin
ocean trench
a steep, long depression in the deep-floor sea floor that runs parallel to a chain of volcanic islands or a continental margin
plankton
the mass of mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in freshwater and marine environments
nekton
all organisms that swim actively in open water, independent of currents
benthos
the organisms that live at the bottom of the sea or ocean
desalination
a process that takes away mineral components from saline water.
pacific ocean
It covers more than 30% of the earth’s surface
atlantic ocean
The Atlantic Ocean covers 20% of the world’s total surface.
Indian ocean
Has Lowest Oxygen Content.
Arctic ocean
The temperature of the surface water of the Arctic Ocean is fairly constant at approximately −1.8 °C
Southern ocean
The Southern Ocean covers roughly 6% of the earth’s surface
