Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

oceanography > origin of the oceans > Flashcards

origin of the oceans Flashcards

1
Q

where were the atoms that make up earth and everything on it formed

A

in stars billions of years ago

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the most abundant element in the universe

A

hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the second most abundant element in the universe

A

helium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the third most abundant element in the universe

A

oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

explain the role of stars in the creation and distribution of elements

A
  1. Stars change hydrogen into helium and heavier elements – nuclear fusion
  2. When they die, they explode and distribute this everywhere (lots of oxygen created in this process)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is a galaxy

A

a huge rotating aggregation of stars, dust, gas and other stuff held together by gravity - Our solar system orbits the Milky Way galaxy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are stars

A

massive gas spheres that form in nebulae - Ours is the Sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how long does it take for our solar system to orbit the milky way

A

230 million years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how many galaxies are there

A

~100 billion galaxies - ours is apart of a 54-member galaxy cluster

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is the condensation theory

A

explains the formation of stars and planetary systems, including our solar system, from a nebula (a large, diffuse cloud of gas and dust)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

explain the condensation theory

A
  • A spinning nebula shrinks under gravity, heats up, and forms a protostar
  • Shrinking continues until ~10 million °C, triggering fusion: hydrogen converts into helium, forming a star
  • Fusion creates heavier elements (up to carbon and oxygen)
  • Larger stars burn faster and can produce elements up to iron
  • When carbon and oxygen are consumed, the star swells into a red giant (dying phase)
  • Eventually, it collapses and explodes in a supernova, lasting ~30 seconds
  • Heavier elements like gold and mercury are formed during the explosion - A nearby supernova could wipe out life
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

explain how Supernovae contributed to Earth and ocean formation

A
  • Shockwaves made solar nebula spin and deposited heavy atoms
  • Planets (and us) are made of stardust, originating from stars
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

explain the formation of the solar system

A
  • ~5 billion years ago: Protosun formed
  • Planets formed from surrounding material via accretion (small particles clumping into larger ones)
  • Larger clumps had stronger gravity, attracting more matter
  • Outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) formed first - methane and ammonia ices condensing in cold temperatures
  • Inner planets formed near the protosun - high temperatures allowed only high-boiling-point materials (e.g., metals, rocky minerals) to solidify (e.g., Mercury is mostly iron)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is accretion

A

small particles clumping into larger ones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

explain the origin of the solar system

A
  1. Material Condensation:
    - Beyond Mercury: Silicon, water, oxygen condensed; methane and ammonia condensed farther out.
    - Earth: Located mid-range, composed of water, silicon-oxygen compounds, and metals
  2. Accretion Phase:
    - Lasted ~30-50 million years
    - Protosun ignited fusion, creating solar wind that cleared excess particles, halting accretion
    - Gas giants (e.g., Jupiter) may have lost atmospheres similar to Earth’s due to solar winds
  3. Formation of Early Earth:
    - Young Earth was chemically homogeneous
    - Heat from asteroid impacts, gravitational compression, and radioactive decay partially melted Earth
  4. Density Stratification:
    - Gravity pulled heavy elements (iron, nickel) to the core, releasing energy
    - Lighter materials rose, forming Earth’s crust
    - Process lasted ~100 million years
  5. Formation of Moon:
    - ~4.6 billion years ago: Mars-sized body collided with Earth
    - Metallic material merged with Earth’s core
    - Rocky mantle debris formed a ring, which condensed into the Moon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

explain the formation of earths first and second atmosphere

A
  • First Atmosphere: Radiation from the young Sun stripped away Earth’s initial outer gases
  • Second Atmosphere: Formed through outgassing of trapped gases, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen
  • Volcanic outgassing persisted, releasing gases and contributing to the evolving atmosphere
17
Q

explain the formation of the ocean

A
  • Initially, temperatures were too hot, causing water vapor to evaporate repeatedly
  • Over time, the surface cooled, allowing water to condense and form droplets
  • Over ~20 million years, water collected on the surface, dissolving minerals from rocks -> formed salty ocean
18
Q

explain the development of the second atmosphere and how

A

water vapor, nitrogen, and CO₂
- CO₂ dissolved in oceans -> form carbonic acid
- ~1.5 billion years later, photosynthesis produced oxygen -> Oxygen Revolution
- Oxygen initially oxidized dissolved minerals, then accumulated in the atmosphere
- Early oceans were hot, with constant rainfall - periods of drastic climate change have occurred since

19
Q

what the right order of magnitude

A
  • big bang: 13 billion years ago
  • first galaxies form: 11 billion years ago
  • solar nebula: 5.5 billion years ago
  • earth form: 4.6 billion years ago
  • ocean form: 4 billion years ago
  • first fossil evidence of life: 3.5 billion years ago
  • oxygen revolution: 2 billion years ago
20
Q

where did life probably start

A

in the oceans
* all life depends on saline water within its cells to dissolve and transport chemicals -> Strong suggestion early life was in ocean

21
Q

why is life as we know it inconceivable without large amounts of water

A
  • Can retain heat
  • Moderate temperature
  • Dissolve chemicals
  • Suspend nutrients and wastes
22
Q

how is life formed

A

aggregations of basic carbon compounds - transported to earth through comets etc.

23
Q

how did the early atmosphere allow for organic life

A
  • thick atmosphere likely blocked harmful UV radiation, enabling organic molecule formation
  • Today, the ozone layer + oxygen do this
24
Q

whats biosynthesis

A

process of how life began -> still speculative

25
Q

how could deep-sea hydrothermal vents may have played a role in the origin of life

A
  • alkali hydrothermal vents mixed with more acidic ocean waters to create a proton gradient
  • This gradient is very similar to the ways cells pump protons across their membranes to harness energy - suggests vents might have provided the conditions for the development of energy-harnessing systems in early life forms
26
Q

water differences on other planets

A

we have liquid water - hard to have
- Jupiter has hundreds of times as much water, but as ice
- Europa, moon of Jupiter shows signs of significant liquid water
- Mars may have had an ocean a long time ago

oceanography (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions