ocean Flashcards
Salinity
the saltiness or amount of salt dissolved in a body of water
surface zone
where most of the visible light exists
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
intermediate position between the abyssalpolegic region and the sea bed
water cycle
the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth
Evaporation
the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor
Condensation
water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
Precipitation
any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity from clouds.
continental shelf
the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean
continental slope
the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor.
continental rise
a sediment underwater feature found between the continental slope and the abyssal plain
abyssal plain
an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor, usually found at depths between 3,000 and 6,000 meters
mid-ocean ridge
an underwater mountain range, formed by plate tectonics
rift valley
a large elongated depression with steep walls formed by the downward displacement of a block of the earth’s surface between nearly parallel faults or fault systems.
Seamount
a submarine mountain.
