Quiz 2 Flashcards
physical properties of interest
temperature, salinity, density
chemical properties of interest
oxygen, nutrients, carbon
conservative sw properties
altered only by physical processes: -precipitation and evaporation
- freezing and thawing
- mixing
non-conservative sw properties
altered by biological activities:
- respiration/photosynthesis
- excretion (waster -> nutrients)
- recycling (nutrients)
greatest seasonal variation at _____ latitudes
mid
in the vertical temperature distribution the mixed layer makes up?
roughly 2% (uniform temperature)
in the vertical temperature distribution the thermocline makes up?
roughly 18 % (rapidly changing temperature)
in the vertical temperature distribution in the deep water?
Roughly 80 % (slowly changing temperature)
equatorial ocean has a ___ thermocline
shallow
temperate ocean has a ____ thermocline
deeper
deep (>1000m) ocean temperatures are_____
the same globally
mid-latitude water column may show two thermoclines
- shallower seasonal
2. deeper permanent
how are seasonal thermoclines developed?
- surface cooling and higher winter wind generates deep mixing, increases cooling of the surface ocean
- summer decreased wind and higher heating warms surface
- this process lead to formation of permanent thermocline
the mixed layer depth is ___ in the tropics
relatively constant
there is seasonally variable in ____ regions
subpolar
where is there deep water formation
greenland and iceland
where is there deep MLDs?
Southern Ocean and North Atlantic
In-situ
the temperature we measure (in-place) of a water parcel, at a particular depth (pressure). Not corrected for compressibility (volume change)
Potential Temperature
Temperature the water would have if it was brought adibatically to the surface. Corrected for compression
density of seawater is a ___ function of ___,___,___
- nonlinear
- salinity, temperature, pressure
What is the primary factor that is controlling sw density?
Temperature
what is the equation of state for seawater?
ρ=ρ(S,T,p)
____ is largely determined by temperature
Density
factures controlling density
- pressure (largest but often ignored)
- temperature (most important for circulation)
- salinity (important for deep water formation)