TEST #1 Flashcards
Define Oceanography
Study of the marine environment and its interactions with earth, the biosphere, and atmosphere.
Name the FOUR subdisciplines of Oceanography
Physical, geological, chemical,biological
Name FIVE important aspects of the Ocean
- ) Lifeblood of the planet
- ) Most Oxygen comes from the oceans
- ) Supplies living and non-living resources
- ) Provides Social/economic goods and services
- ) regulates Earths system and temperature
Name the two Ocean Origin Theories
Volcanism(Volcanoes) and SpaZce
Define Crust
lithosphere +Atmosphere
What two crusts make up the lithosphere?
continental and Oceanic
What are the differences between Oceanic and Continental crust?
Oceanic Continental
- thinner -Thicker
- more dense -Less Dense
- not as old -Older
- less silica -silica rich
What is Plate Tectonics
a theory describing the large scale motions of Earths lithosphere
Who came up with the Pangea theory?
Alfred Wegner in 1915
Name the FOUR Pangea proofs
- ) Tropical fossils in cold climates and glaciers in hot environments
- )Similarities in mountain belts
- )Fossil evidence
- )Age of the ocean floor
Define Convection
Movement within a fluid caused by tendency of hotter, less dense, material to rise, and colder, denser, material to sink under the influence of gravity
Name the THREE Plate Boundaries
- ) Convergent (plates collide)
- ) Divergent (plates separate)
- )Transform (plates slide past each other)
What combinations cause convergent boundaries?
Oceanic/oceanic
Oceanic/continental
Continental/continental
What does the Oceanic/ Oceanic combo of convergent boundaries cause?
Trenches, Island arcs, Earthquakes, and volcanoes
What is the deepest point on Earth?
Mariana Trench
What does the Oceanic/Continental combo of convergent boundaries cause?
Trenches, Mountain ranges, Earthquakes, and volcanoes
What is a Subduction Zone?
One tectonic plate sinks into the mantle underneath the other
Occurs at convergent boundaries; one plate is oceanic
What doe the Continental/Continental combo of convergent boundaries cause?
Forms mountains, causes earthquakes
What two plates are involved in Divergent Boundaries?
Oceanic and Continental
Oceanic Divergence Causes….
> Mid Ocean Ridges
Volcanoes
New Crust
Seafloor Spreading occurs at….
Mid-Ocean ridges where new crust is forming
How is crust created?
as intruding magma plates move apart
What do Transform Boundaries cause?
Severe, shallow earthquakes
Define a Hot Spot
parts of Earths upper mantle melt upward through crust, forming a volcanic feature
Marine provinces are…
Areas with unique topographical features in the ocean
The three major provinces are
Continental Margins, Ocean Floor, Mid-Ocean Ridges
Define Bathymetry
Study, mapping, and measurement of seafloor topography
Name the three tools/methods used in Bathymetry
- ) Depth Soundings
- ) Echo sounding
- ) Satellites
Briefly describe Depth Sounding
Pre-measured weighted rope/cable lowered over a ships side, measuring one point at a time with low resolution
Briefly describe Echo Sounding
A type of SONAR with single or multibeam. Uses the reflection of sound signal to determine depth.
