Structure Of The Oceans

Question 1

What happens when heat is added to a substance?

Answer 1

increase in kinetic energy
increase in physical vibrations of molecules/atoms
bonds may break
phase transitions

Question 2

What happens when heat is removed from a substance?

Answer 2

Increase in density

Question 3

What are the sources of cations in seawater?

Answer 3

Na, Ca, Mg - weathering of igneous rocks, transport via rivers

Question 4

What are the sources of anions in seawater?

Answer 4

Cl, SO4 - from mantle, from early atmosphere, released by volcanoes

Question 5

How is the salt balance regulated?

Answer 5

Sea spray
evaporite formation 
formation of insoluble products
adsorption (precipitation)
incorporation by organisms 
harvesting by organisms

Question 6

What is the temperature structure of the oceans?

Answer 6

heat input concentrated at the equator
>25 degrees - shifts north/south with the seasons
heat input to the surface

Question 7

What are thermoclines?

Answer 7

rapid changes in heat (200-1000m)
seasonal thermoclines (40-100m)
daily thermoclines (<12m)

Question 8

How is salinity controlled?

Answer 8

By precipitation and evaporation
largely dependent on climate
precipitation - equator and poles
evaporation - 20-35 degree latitude

Question 9

How is density affected?

Answer 9

Increases with decreasing temperature and increasing salinity.

Question 10

What is a pycnocline?

Answer 10

Rapid change in density