Oceanography Study Guide Flashcards
What is the amount of dissolved salts in water?
salinity
Does the amount of salt ever change in the ocean?
no
Does the salinity of the ocean’s surface ever change?
yes
Which phase of the water cycle causes the salinity to decrease?
precipitation
Which phase of the water cycle causes the salinity to increase?
evaporation
What happens to the salinity of ocean water if you add fresh water?
it decreases
What happens to the salinity of ocean water if you take away fresh water?
it increases
What happens to temperature as you descend through the water column?
it decreases
What happens to pressure as you descend through the water column?
it increases
What happens to density as you descend through the water column?
it increases
What happens to light as you descend through the water column?
it decreases
What is the main cause of ocean waves?
wind
Does the water move toward shore with the wave?
No, the energy moves toward shore
How does a wave affect the water molecule as it passes over it?
The water moves in a circular motion
What is the highest point of a wave?
crest
What is the lowest point of a wave?
trough
What is the horizontal distance between wave crests?
wavelength
What is the vertical distance from trough to crest?
wave height
What is a large stream of moving water that flows through the ocean?
current
What is the main cause of surface ocean currents?
wind
What is the largest and most powerful current in the North Atlantic Ocean?
The Gulf Stream
Why do the currents curve as they move?
Because of the Earth’s rotation
What is the effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents which causes them to curve?
The Coriolis Effect
How does the temperature of the current affect the temperature of the air above it?
a warm current warms the air; a cold current cools the air
How does the presence of a warm or cold current affect the climate of the land near it?
A warm current creates a warmer climate; a cold current creates a cooler climate
What is the upward movement of cold water from the ocean depths?
upwelling
Why is upwelling necessary for live in the ocean?
Because it moves nutrients to the surface of the ocean
What causes tides?
The interaction of the sun, moon, and earth
What is the main cause of the regular motion of tides?
The moon’s gravity
What is the term for a tide at its highest point?
high tide
What is the term for a tide at its lowest point?
low tide
How many hours occur between high tide and the next high tide?
12 hours
How many tides occur in one day (24 hours)?
2 tides
How many hours occur between low tide and the next low tide?
12 hours
How many low tides occur in one day (24 hours)?
2 tides
How many hours occur between high tide and low tide?
6 hours
If high tide occurs at 1:00 PM approximately when will the next high tide occur?
1:00 AM (add 12 hours)
If high tide occurs at 1:00 PM approximately when will the next low tide occur?
7:00 PM (add 6 hours)
How are high and low tides different when the sun, moon, and earth line up?
High tide is super high and low tide is super low
What type of tide occurs when the sun, moon, and earth line up?
Spring tide
Which type of tide occurs when tides have the greatest distance between high and low tide?
Spring Tide
How are high and low tides different when the sun and moon are at right angles with the earth?
High tide raises only a little, low tide lowers only a little
Which type of tide occurs when the sun and moon are at right angles with the earth?
Neap Tide
What type of tide occurs when there is very little difference between high and low tide?
Neap Tide
Name the features of the ocean floor from the coastline to the deep ocean.
Continental shelf, continental slope, abyssal plane, mid-ocean ridge
What is an underwater mountain?
Seamount
What is an underwater canyon?
Deep ocean trench
