oceans Flashcards
pacific ocean
its the largest and deepest ocean
atlantic ocean
its tnhe second largest ocean
indian ocean
it covers 20% of the earth
arctic ocean
its the earths northernmost body of water
southern ocean
it has some of the strongest winds on earth
Salinity
the concentrations of salts in water or soils
surface zone
from the surface to 660 feet
Thermocline
a steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake
deep zone
the area where light dwindles
water cycle
the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth
Evaporation
when a liquid turns into a gas
Condensation
when a gas turns into a liquid
Precipitation
any form of water
continental shelf
A continental shelf is a portion of a continent that is submerged under an area of relatively shallow water
continental slope
the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor
continental rise
a wide, gentle incline from a deep ocean plain (abyssal plain) to a continental slope
abyssal plain
the largest habitat on earth
mid-ocean ridge
a continuous range of underwater volcanoes that wraps around the globe like seams on a baseball
rift valley
a lowland region that forms where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart
Seamount
underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor
ocean trench
a long, narrow, deep depression in the ocean floor
Plankton
usually microscopic, often less than one inch in length, but they also include larger species like some crustaceans and jellyfish
Nekton
living organisms that are able to swim and move independently of currents
Benthos
organisms living on the bottom of the ocean
