Quiz 2 Flashcards
Polarity
a state or condition of an atom or a molecule having a positive and negative charges; bend in H2O molecule gives it polarity and allows for hydrogen bonds
Hydrogen bond
a weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other
Latent Heat
the calories required for a phase change without a change in temperature
Latent heat in melting
the calories it takes to make something melt
Latent heat in vaporization
the calories it takes to make something vaporize (a lot more calories than melting)
Heat capacity
the amount of heat that must be applied to an object in order to cause a unit change in temperature
Cohesion
molecular attraction by which the particles of a body are united throughout the mass. Makes water bead up
Surface tension
the tendency of liquid surfaces at rest to shrink into the minimum surface area possible; allows things to float in liquid; resulting from the formation of hydrogen bonds between the outer most layer of water molecules and the underlying molecules
pH scale
A scale that shows if something is more basic or acidic; more hydrogen ions in acidic
Acid/base
Acid: more hydrogen ions
Base: more hydroxide ions
Carbonate buffering system
a buffering system that maintains the pH in the sea; equation constantly shifting to equal out the pH
Hypoxia
Little DO in the water
Anoxia
No DO in the water
Eutrophication
An excessive amount of nutrients in the water which causes algae blooms and leads to low DO
Atmospheric pressure
the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth; pressure being exerted on the earth
Convection cells
a circular-moving loop of matter involved in convective movement
Wind
the movement of air, usually a result of pressure differences
Low-pressure zone
an area where there is low pressure, usually it’s warm; precipitation and storms
high pressure zone
an area where there is high pressure, usually cold; sunnier
Coriolis Effect
An apparent force resulting from Earth’s rotation that causes particles in motion to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Trade winds
A global wind belt that moves from a subtropical high-pressure belt at about 30 degrees north or south latitude toward the equatorial region. These winds move from a northeasterly direction in the Northern Hemisphere and from a southeasterly direction in the Southern Hemisphere
El Nino
A southernly flowing warm surface current that generally develops off the coast of Ecuador around Christmastime. Occasionally, it will move farther south into the Peruvian coastal waters and cause the widespread death of plankton and other marine animals
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The correlation of El Nino events with an oscillatory pattern change in a persistent high-pressure cell in the southeastern Pacific Ocean and a persistent low-pressure cell over the East Indies
La Nina
An event where the surface temperature in the waters of the eastern South Pacific falls below average values; often follows el nino
Thermocline
A layer of water beneath the mixed layer in which a rapid change in temperature can be measured in the vertical dimension
Pycnocline
A layer of water in which a high rate of change in density in the vertical dimension is present
Stratification
the arrangement or classification of something into different groups
Thermohaline
The vertical movement of ocean water driven by density differences resulting from the combined effects of variations in temperature and salinity; produces deep currents