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Oceanography > Quiz 2 > Flashcards

Quiz 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Polarity

A

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

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2
Q

Hydrogen bond

A

a weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other

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3
Q

Latent Heat

A

the calories required for a phase change without a change in temperature

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4
Q

Latent heat in melting

A

the calories it takes to make something melt

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5
Q

Latent heat in vaporization

A

the calories it takes to make something vaporize (a lot more calories than melting)

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6
Q

Heat capacity

A

the amount of heat that must be applied to an object in order to cause a unit change in temperature

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7
Q

Cohesion

A

molecular attraction by which the particles of a body are united throughout the mass. Makes water bead up

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8
Q

Surface tension

A

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

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9
Q

pH scale

A

A scale that shows if something is more basic or acidic; more hydrogen ions in acidic

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10
Q

Acid/base

A

Acid: more hydrogen ions
Base: more hydroxide ions

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11
Q

Carbonate buffering system

A

a buffering system that maintains the pH in the sea; equation constantly shifting to equal out the pH

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12
Q

Hypoxia

A

Little DO in the water

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13
Q

Anoxia

A

No DO in the water

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14
Q

Eutrophication

A

An excessive amount of nutrients in the water which causes algae blooms and leads to low DO

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15
Q

Atmospheric pressure

A

the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth; pressure being exerted on the earth

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16
Q

Convection cells

A

a circular-moving loop of matter involved in convective movement

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17
Q

Wind

A

the movement of air, usually a result of pressure differences

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18
Q

Low-pressure zone

A

an area where there is low pressure, usually it’s warm; precipitation and storms

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19
Q

high pressure zone

A

an area where there is high pressure, usually cold; sunnier

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20
Q

Coriolis Effect

A

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

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21
Q

Trade winds

A

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

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22
Q

El Nino

A

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

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23
Q

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

A

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

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24
Q

La Nina

A

An event where the surface temperature in the waters of the eastern South Pacific falls below average values; often follows el nino

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25
Thermocline
A layer of water beneath the mixed layer in which a rapid change in temperature can be measured in the vertical dimension
26
Pycnocline
A layer of water in which a high rate of change in density in the vertical dimension is present
27
Stratification
the arrangement or classification of something into different groups
28
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
29
Conveyor belt circulation
An integrated deep-water and surface current circulation pattern that resembles a large conveyor belt
30
Surface currents
wind driven currents at the surface
31
Deep currents
A density driven circulation that is initiated at the ocean surface by temperature and salinity conditions that produce a high density water mass, which sinks and spreads slowly beneath surface waters; THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION
32
Downwelling
In open or coastal ocean, where Ekman transport causes surface waters to converge or impinge on the coast, surface water that moves down beneath the surface
33
Upwelling
The process by which deep, cold, nutrient laden water is brought to the surface, usually by diverging equatorial currents or coastal currents that pull surface waters away from a coast
34
Convergence
The act of coming together from different directions. There are polar, tropical, and subtropical regions of the oceans where water masses with different characteristics come together. Along these lines of convergence, the denser masses sink beneath the others
35
Divergence
A horizontal flow of water from a central region, as occurs in upwelling
36
Ekman spiral
A theoretical consideration of the effect of a steady wind blowing over an ocean of unlimited depth and breadth and of uniform viscosity. The result is a surface flow at 45 degrees to the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere. Water at increasing depth below the surface will drift in directions increasingly more slowly and to the right, until about 100 m depth it may move in a direction opposite to that of the wind
37
Ekman layer
the layer in a fluid where there is a force balance between pressure gradient force, Coriolis Effect, and turbulent drag
38
Ekman transport
The net transport of surface water set in motion by surface winds and the Ekman spiral. It is theoretically in a direction 90 degrees to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere and 90 degrees to the left of the wind direction in the Southern Hemisphere
39
Gyre
A large, horizontal, circular moving loop of water. Used mainly in reference to the circular motion of water in each of the major ocean basins centered in subtropical high-pressure regions
40
Wave Crest
breaking point of the wave; highest point on a wave
41
Wave Trough
Lowest point on a wave
42
Wave Height
The vertical distances between a crest and adjoining trough
43
Wavelength
The horizontal distance between two corresponding points on successive waves, such as from crest to crest
44
Wave Steepness
Ratio of wave height (H) to wavelength (L). If a 1:7 ratio is ever exceeded by the wave, then the wave breaks
45
Wave period
The elapsed time between the passage of two successive wave crests (or troughs) past a fixed point. A wave's period is the inverse of its frequency
46
Wave frequency
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a unit of time (usually one second). A wave's frequency is the inverse of its period.
47
how to decrease salinity
add more freshwater
48
how to increase salinity
sea ice forming and evaporation
49
why does location matter with salinity?
The location is either getting more rain or less rain (and other stuff) which makes it have higher and lower salinity
50
As temp increases, density
decreases
51
As salinity increases, density
increases
52
As pressure increases, density
increases
53
halocline
rapidly changing salinity
54
carbon and oxygen distributions are controlled by...
their concentrations in the atmosphere, solubility in sea water, chemical reactions, biological activities, and the pressure and temperature of the seawater
55
What are the main convection cells that disperse heat?
Hadley cells equator, polar cells at the poles, Ferrell cells between Hadley and polar cells (flows opp. of Hadley and polar not temp driven)
56
Atmosphere mostly comprised of
nitrogen and oxygen (and other inert gases)
57
Troposphere
is where weather is produced; mixing layer; as temp gets lower pressure gets higher
58
Which way is the Earth spinning at the North pole (Nothern Hemisphere)
Counterclockwise
59
Which way is the Earth spinning at the South pole (Southern Hemisphere)
Clockwise
60
Coriolis Effect at the equator??
Nonexistent
61
How do winds move in the Northern Hemisphere
air curves to the right and results in a counterclockwise movement around low pressure cells (opp. for SH)
62
Sea breeze Land breeze
landward flow of air Seaward flow of air
63
currents are...
water masses in motion
64
How do currents affect coastal climates?
Warm currents make the air warm which leads to a humid climate, and cold currents do the opposite
65
Is the Ekman transportation (net water) at play with downwelling and upwelling?
Yes
66
How do deep currents start?
When surface water in high latitudes become dense and sinks
67
Carbonate Buffering System Equation
CO2 + H2O <---> H2CO3 <---> HCO3 (neg ion) + H+ (pos ion)
68
Ocean Acidification effects?
fewer carbonate ions lead to fewer and smaller marine calcifiers
69
What pressure system creates clouds? Precipitation?
Low to high; low pressure air holds more water vapor and as it rises it gets colder and releases
70
The fetch
area of ocean or lake surface over which the wind blows in an essentially constant direction thus generating waves

Oceanography (7 decks)

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