Plate Techtonics Flashcards
List the major processes that form the oceans
- Plate tectonics
- Young ocean basin
- Plate divergence
- Seafloor spreading
- Matching coastline frame
Oceanic crust is rich in which minerals?
Iron and magnesium
Continental crust is rich on what minerals?
Silica and aluminium
The three phases that water can occur in?
Ice (solid)
Liquid
Gas (water vapour)
Why does ice float?
Because it has inter-molecular space. It is bulkier and more dense.
Where is most heat absorbed in the ocean?
The top two metres
What percentage of solar radiation is absorbed by ocean water and land?
47%
How do aquatic environments maintain temperature fluctuations?
The heat-buffering capacity of water reduces temperature fluctuations in aquatic environments.
What determines the density of water?
Heating and salinity
What is a thermocline?
T.C occur when the temperature decreases with depth.
The greatest change occurring in the region is called the thermocline.
In spring and summer the surface water is heated, creating a thermocline.
What are the consequences of a thermocline?
- Suppresses mixing
- Depleted nutrients on the surface layer
- Alters gaseous equilibria
- Creates barrier to movement (density)
What does the mixed layer depth (MLD) determine?
It determines the average light intensity experiences by phytoplankton
How does Shallow MLD affect phytoplankton?
Shallow MLD holds phytoplankton close to the surface where light intensity is high
How does deeper MLD affect phytoplankton?
Deeper MLD will subject phytoplankton to lower light intensities
What are the three ocean types that MLD varies seasonally for?
- Polar
- Tropical
- Temperate
