Test 3 Flashcards
Bonding
The process of atoms linking together to form molecules, such as the covalent and hydrogen bonds that hold water molecules together in the ocean.
Water Molecule
A molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H₂O), essential for ocean chemistry and marine life.
Dihydrogen Oxide
Another name for water (H₂O), the primary component of the ocean and a key player in Earth’s climate system.
Dipole Molecule
A molecule, like water, that has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other, leading to unique properties like cohesion and surface tension in the ocean.
Dipole Moment
The measure of the separation of charges in a dipole molecule, influencing water’s ability to dissolve salts and support marine life.
Salt
A compound formed from ions, primarily sodium chloride (NaCl), which is abundant in seawater and affects ocean salinity and density.
Hydrogen Bond
A weak bond between water molecules that gives the ocean high surface tension and influences wave formation and evaporation.
Acid
A substance that increases hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration in water; ocean acidification due to CO₂ absorption is a major concern for marine ecosystems.
Hydrogen Ion
A positively charged ion (H⁺) that influences ocean pH; an increase in hydrogen ions leads to ocean acidification, affecting coral reefs and shell-forming organisms.
Base
A substance that reduces hydrogen ion concentration and increases hydroxyl ions (OH⁻), helping to regulate ocean pH.
Hydroxyl Ion
A negatively charged ion (OH⁻) that combines with hydrogen ions to form water, playing a role in buffering ocean acidity.
Condensation
The process where water vapor cools and turns into liquid, contributing to cloud formation and the oceanic water cycle.
Evaporation
The process where water molecules gain enough energy to transition from liquid to gas, driving the water cycle and ocean-atmosphere interactions.
Unstructured Water
Water molecules that are loosely arranged, often found in turbulent ocean conditions and warm water currents.
Structured Water
Water molecules arranged in a more ordered pattern, such as in ice formations and deep ocean currents.
Hexagon
The six-sided structure seen in ice crystals, which impacts sea ice formation and ocean circulation.
Heat
A form of energy transferred between substances, influencing ocean currents and climate patterns.
Sensible Heat
Heat that causes a change in temperature and can be measured with a thermometer, affecting ocean surface temperatures and weather systems.
Latent Heat
The heat absorbed or released during a phase change, such as when water evaporates from the ocean or condenses into clouds.
Temperature
A measure of thermal energy that affects ocean density, circulation, and marine ecosystems.
Thermometer
An instrument used to measure temperature, crucial for monitoring ocean warming and climate change.
Calorie
A unit of heat energy; in oceanography, it is used to measure the amount of heat needed to change water temperature.
Latent Heat of Freezing/Melting
The energy required to change water between solid and liquid states, influencing sea ice dynamics and ocean heat transport.
Latent Heat of Vaporization
The amount of heat required to convert liquid water into vapor without changing temperature, a key driver of ocean evaporation and the water cycle.
Latent Heat of Condensation
The heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid, fueling storms and affecting ocean-atmosphere interactions.
Latent Heat of Sublimation
The heat required to change ice directly into vapor without becoming liquid, an important process in polar regions and high-altitude ocean environments.
Density
The mass per unit volume of a substance; in oceanography, it controls water column stability and drives deep ocean currents.
Density-Stratified System
A system where layers of water with different densities form, preventing mixing and influencing ocean circulation and marine life distribution.
Pure Water
Water with no dissolved substances, rarely found in nature, as ocean water is rich in dissolved salts and minerals.
Seawater
Water containing dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride, along with other minerals that influence ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems.
Residence Time
The average time a substance, such as a salt ion, remains in the ocean before being removed, impacting ocean chemistry stability.
Dynamic Equilibrium
The balance between the addition and removal of substances in the ocean, maintaining stable chemical conditions over time.
Principle of Constant Proportions
The rule stating that the relative proportions of major dissolved salts in seawater remain constant, even if salinity varies.
Chlorinity
A measure of the total chloride content in seawater, used to calculate salinity levels.
ppt, o/oo
Parts per thousand (ppt or ‰), the unit used to express seawater salinity, typically around 35 ppt in open oceans.
Salinity
The total amount of dissolved salts in seawater, affecting density, circulation, and marine life.
Steady State Condition
A situation where the input and removal of a substance in the ocean are balanced, maintaining long-term stability.
Saturation Value
The maximum concentration of a dissolved gas or mineral that seawater can hold under specific conditions, influencing ocean chemistry.
Undersaturated
A condition where seawater holds less of a dissolved substance than its saturation value, allowing more to dissolve.
Saturated
A state in which seawater contains the maximum amount of a dissolved substance, preventing further dissolution without changes in conditions.
Supersaturated
A condition where seawater contains more of a dissolved substance (like gas or minerals) than its saturation value, often leading to precipitation or bubble formation.
Photosynthesis
The process by which marine plants, such as phytoplankton, use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and organic matter, fueling ocean food webs.
Oxygen Minimum Zone
A layer in the ocean, typically between 200-1000 meters deep, where oxygen levels are at their lowest due to decomposition and limited mixing.
Depauperate Fauna
Marine organisms found in areas with low biodiversity, such as oxygen-poor environments where few species can survive.
Oxygenated
Water that contains dissolved oxygen, essential for marine life and indicating good ocean mixing and circulation.
Dysoxic
Water with low oxygen levels, creating stressful conditions for many marine organisms and influencing sediment chemistry.
Anoxic
Water that lacks oxygen completely, often found in deep-sea basins or stagnant coastal areas, leading to the formation of toxic hydrogen sulfide.
Carbon Dioxide
A gas that dissolves in seawater, playing a key role in ocean acidification and the marine carbon cycle.
Carbonate Ion
A dissolved ion (CO₃²⁻) important for shell-building marine organisms, but its availability decreases with ocean acidification.
Bicarbonate Ion
A key component of seawater (HCO₃⁻) that forms from carbonic acid and helps regulate ocean pH.
Carbonic Acid
A weak acid (H₂CO₃) formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, contributing to ocean acidification.
Buffer
A system that stabilizes pH in seawater, such as the carbonate system, preventing extreme acidity or alkalinity.
Active Precipitation
The process where dissolved substances in seawater are actively removed through biological or chemical reactions, forming solids.
Passive Precipitation
The natural settling of particles or dissolved minerals in seawater without external influences like biological activity.
Wavelength
The distance between two wave crests, affecting how different colors of light penetrate the ocean.
Penetration
The ability of light to travel through seawater, which varies by depth and wavelength.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The range of all wavelengths of light, with only certain portions (visible light) penetrating seawater to support photosynthesis.
Colour
The appearance of light in water, with blue penetrating the deepest and red being absorbed quickly.
Photic Zone
The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight supports photosynthesis, typically reaching down to 200 meters.
Euphotic Zone
The topmost part of the photic zone, where light is strongest and photosynthesis is most productive.
Dysphotic Zone
The middle ocean layer where light is dim, not enough for photosynthesis but still visible.
Aphotic Zone
The deep ocean layer with no sunlight, where organisms rely on bioluminescence and chemosynthesis for survival.
Conduction
The transfer of heat through direct contact, such as the slow movement of heat from the ocean surface to deeper layers.
Thermocline
A layer in the ocean where temperature changes rapidly with depth, affecting mixing and marine life distribution.
Tropical
A warm oceanic region near the equator with consistently high temperatures and abundant marine biodiversity.
Subtropical
Oceanic regions between tropical and temperate zones, often characterized by stable, warm water and large gyres.
Temperate
Ocean regions between subtropical and subpolar areas, with seasonal temperature variations and diverse marine ecosystems.
Subpolar
Ocean regions between temperate and polar zones, with cold waters, strong seasonal changes, and rich fisheries.
Polar
The coldest oceanic regions near the Arctic and Antarctic, featuring ice-covered waters and unique adaptations for marine life.
Surface Layer
The uppermost part of the ocean that interacts with the atmosphere, where temperature and salinity are most variable.
Deep Layer/Zone
The cold, dense water beneath the pycnocline that remains relatively stable and isolated from surface influences.
Halocline
A layer in the ocean where salinity changes rapidly with depth, affecting water density and circulation.
Surface Zone
The top layer of the ocean where mixing occurs due to wind, waves, and currents, influencing temperature and gas exchange.
Pycnocline
A layer where water density increases rapidly with depth due to changes in temperature and salinity, acting as a barrier to mixing.
Sound Rays
Paths that sound waves take as they travel through the ocean, bending due to changes in temperature, pressure, and salinity.
Reflection
The bouncing back of sound waves or light at an ocean surface or seafloor, used in sonar and mapping.
Echo
A reflected sound wave that returns after bouncing off an object or the seafloor, crucial for sonar navigation.
Refraction
The bending of sound or light waves as they pass through water layers of different densities, affecting underwater visibility and acoustics.
Shadow Zone
An area in the ocean where sound waves are deflected away, creating regions where sonar detection is difficult.
Sound Channel
A depth layer in the ocean where sound waves travel long distances with minimal loss, useful for submarine communication.
SOFAR Channel
A specific deep-sea sound channel that allows low-frequency sound waves to travel thousands of kilometers with little energy loss.
Sound Strength
The intensity of sound waves in water, influenced by depth, temperature, and salinity, impacting sonar and marine life communication.
scattering
The redirection of light or sound waves in multiple directions when they hit particles in seawater, affecting visibility and sonar readings.
Sonar
A technology that uses sound waves to detect objects, measure ocean depth, and map the seafloor.
Spicules
Tiny, needle-like structures found in marine organisms like sponges, often made of silica or calcium carbonate
Cells
Circulatory patterns in oceanic and atmospheric systems, including Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells that drive global wind and ocean currents.
Sea Ice
Frozen ocean water that forms at the surface, playing a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate and ocean circulation.
Pancake Ice
Small, circular, and thick ice formations that develop in rough seas and can merge to form larger ice fields.
Pack Ice
A dense, floating mass of sea ice that covers large ocean areas and drifts with currents and winds.
Ice Floes
Large, flat sheets of floating ice that can range in size and break apart from larger ice masses.
Fringe Ice
Ice that forms along coastlines and in shallow waters, often breaking up seasonally.
Land Ice
Ice that forms on land, such as glaciers and ice sheets, and can contribute to sea-level rise if it melts.
Ice Shelf
A floating extension of a glacier or ice sheet that remains attached to land but extends over the ocean.
Iceberg
A large chunk of freshwater ice that breaks off from glaciers or ice shelves and drifts in the ocean.
Tabular Berg
A flat-topped iceberg with steep sides, often originating from Antarctic ice shelves.
Pinnacle Berg
An iceberg with one or more pointed peaks above the water, shaped by melting and erosion.
Spurs
Protruding sections of ice on an iceberg, contributing to its irregular shape and potential instability.
Growler
A small iceberg, typically less than 2 meters above the water, that poses a hazard to ships.
Icebreaker
A specially designed ship that can break through sea ice to create navigable paths in polar waters.
Air Pressure
The force exerted by the weight of air, influencing wind patterns and weather systems.
Low/High Pressure
Low pressure leads to rising air and stormy weather, while high pressure results in sinking air and calm conditions.
Advection/Convection
Advection refers to horizontal movement of air or water, while convection involves vertical circulation due to temperature differences.
High-Altitude Wind
Fast-moving winds found in the upper atmosphere, such as jet streams, which influence weather patterns.
Surface Wind
Winds that blow close to Earth’s surface, influenced by air pressure, the Coriolis effect, and friction.
Hadley Cells
Large atmospheric convection cells near the equator that drive tropical weather and trade winds.
Temperate Cells (Ferrel Cells)
Mid-latitude atmospheric circulation cells that transport heat between Hadley and Polar cells.
Coriolis Deflection
The apparent deflection of moving air and water due to Earth’s rotation, influencing ocean currents and wind patterns.
Polar Cells
Atmospheric circulation cells located near the poles, where cold air sinks and moves towards lower latitudes.
Trade Winds
Steady winds blowing from east to west in the tropics, driving ocean currents and influencing climate.
Westerlies
Winds that blow from west to east in mid-latitudes, affecting weather patterns and ocean currents.
Easterlies
Cold, dry winds blowing from east to west near the poles, helping drive polar ocean currents.
Doldrums/Intertropical Convergence Zone
A region near the equator with calm winds and rising warm air, leading to frequent storms and heavy rainfall.
Horse Latitudes/Subtropical High Pressure
Areas of high pressure around 30° latitude, where dry, sinking air creates desert climates and calm ocean conditions.
Subpolar Lows
Low-pressure regions at high latitudes, where rising warm air leads to storms and strong winds.
Polar Highs
Cold, high-pressure regions at the poles where sinking air leads to dry and stable conditions.
Surface Currents
Ocean currents driven by wind, moving water horizontally across the ocean’s surface.
Continental Effect
The influence of land on oceanic and atmospheric conditions, often leading to greater temperature extremes.
Boundary Current
Ocean currents that flow along the edges of ocean basins, including warm western and cool eastern boundary currents.
Gyre
Large circular ocean current systems driven by global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect.
Ekman Spiral
A pattern of ocean current rotation caused by the Coriolis effect, where deeper layers move at increasing angles to surface winds.
Antarctic Circumpolar Current
The largest ocean current, circling Antarctica and connecting the world’s oceans.
Equatorial Countercurrents
Eastward-flowing currents found between the westward trade winds, balancing ocean circulation.
Equatorial Undercurrents
Deep currents flowing beneath the surface near the equator, influencing ocean mixing and climate.
Geostrophic Flow
Ocean currents that result from a balance between gravity and the Coriolis effect, influencing large-scale circulation.
Western Boundary Intensification
The strengthening of western boundary currents due to Earth’s rotation, leading to fast, deep, and narrow currents.
Rings, Eddies
Swirling masses of water formed when currents break off, transporting heat, nutrients, and marine life.
Langmuir Circulation
Small-scale, wind-driven currents forming parallel streaks of foam and debris on the ocean surface.
Sea Stripes
Visible streaks on the ocean surface caused by Langmuir circulation.
Thermohaline Circulation
The global ocean conveyor belt driven by differences in temperature and salinity.
Surface Water
The uppermost layer of the ocean, influenced by wind and heat exchange with the atmosphere.
Vertically Stratified System
An oceanic system where water layers remain separate due to differences in temperature and salinity.
North Atlantic Deep Water
A deep water mass formed in the North Atlantic, driving global ocean circulation.
Weddell Sea
A region in Antarctica where dense, cold water forms and sinks, contributing to deep ocean currents.
Antarctic Bottom Water
The coldest, densest water mass, forming near Antarctica and sinking to the ocean floor.
Convergence/Divergence
Regions where ocean water masses meet and mix (convergence) or spread apart (divergence), affecting nutrient cycling.
Underwater Waterfalls
Massive cascades of cold, dense water sinking beneath lighter layers, driving deep ocean circulation.
Meddies
Warm, salty water eddies that form from Mediterranean outflows, affecting deep ocean currents.
What is a dipole molecule?
A molecule with a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other. Water (H₂O) is a dipole molecule, making it an excellent solvent.
What is a hydrogen bond?
A weak bond between two water molecules due to attraction between the partial negative oxygen of one molecule and the partial positive hydrogen of another.
What is the principle of constant proportions?
The ratio of major dissolved ions in seawater remains constant, regardless of salinity, meaning seawater composition is predictable.
What is the thermocline?
A layer in the ocean where temperature decreases rapidly with depth, acting as a barrier to mixing between surface and deep water.
What is latent heat of vaporization?
The amount of heat required to convert liquid water into vapor without changing temperature, contributing to climate regulation through evaporation.
What is the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ)?
A depth in the ocean (typically 200-1,000 m) where oxygen levels are lowest due to microbial decomposition and limited circulation.
What is the SOFAR channel?
A layer of ocean water where sound waves travel efficiently over long distances due to temperature and pressure conditions.
What are trade winds?
Steady east-to-west winds found between 0° and 30° latitude, driving equatorial currents and influencing climate.
How does the uniqueness of the water molecule affect its physical and chemical properties?
Water’s polarity and hydrogen bonding lead to high surface tension, cohesion, adhesion, a high heat capacity, and the ability to dissolve many substances, influencing climate and ocean circulation.
What is the difference between acid and base, and how do they relate to water?
Acids donate hydrogen ions (H⁺), while bases accept them. Water can act as both (amphoteric), allowing it to buffer pH changes in the ocean.
What is the difference between sensible and latent heat, and how do they relate to hydrogen bonds?
Sensible heat changes temperature directly, while latent heat is absorbed or released during phase changes (without a temperature change). Hydrogen bonding makes water’s latent heat capacity exceptionally high.
What affects the density of seawater?
Temperature, salinity, and pressure. Cold, salty water is denser and sinks, driving deep ocean circulation.
How do chlorinity and salinity differ, and what is their significance?
Chlorinity measures halide ions (Cl⁻), while salinity includes all dissolved salts. The principle of constant proportions allows salinity to be estimated from chlorinity.
What controls the concentration of gases in seawater?
Temperature, salinity, biological activity (photosynthesis, respiration), and pressure. Cold water holds more gas than warm water.
How does carbon dioxide in the ocean affect calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitation and dissolution?
CO₂ reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which lowers pH and can dissolve CaCO₃, affecting marine organisms and reef health.
How do the photic, euphotic, dysphotic, and aphotic zones differ?
Photic zone: Light penetrates (supports photosynthesis).
Euphotic zone: Uppermost part of photic zone, where photosynthesis dominates.
Dysphotic zone: Some light, but not enough for photosynthesis.
Aphotic zone: No light, deep ocean.
What is the difference between boundary currents and wind-driven currents in a gyre?
Boundary currents: Flow along ocean basins’ edges (Western boundary currents are strong and narrow, Eastern are weak and broad).
Wind-driven currents: Caused by wind patterns; part of large gyres.
How do upwelling and downwelling differ?
Upwelling: Deep, nutrient-rich water rises, boosting productivity (e.g., along the west coasts of continents).
Downwelling: Surface water sinks, supplying oxygen to deep layers.
Study the major wind belts labeled with trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies, intertropical convergence zone, subtropical highs, etc.
Study a gyre labeled with Surface Layer, Thermocline, Deep Layer based on temperature, salinity, and density
Study the CO₂–CaCO₃ equilibrium equation
How does the uniqueness of the water molecule affect its physical and chemical properties?
Water’s dipole structure and hydrogen bonding give it a high heat capacity, surface tension, cohesion, adhesion, and solvent abilities, influencing climate and ocean chemistry.
How do acids and bases relate to water?
Acids donate H⁺, bases accept H⁺. Water acts as both (amphoteric), allowing pH buffering in the ocean.
How do the physical states of dihydrogen oxide (H₂O) differ?
Solid (ice): Less dense than liquid due to hydrogen bonding.
Liquid: Dense, high heat capacity.
Gas (vapor): Molecules spread, storing heat (latent heat of vaporization).
What is the difference between latent and sensible heat?
Sensible heat changes temperature; latent heat is absorbed or released during phase changes (without temperature change). Hydrogen bonding increases water’s latent heat.
What affects the density of seawater?
Temperature (cold = denser), salinity (more salt = denser), and pressure.
How do chlorinity and salinity differ?
Chlorinity measures halide ions, while salinity accounts for all dissolved salts. The principle of constant proportions lets salinity be calculated from chlorinity.
How do seawater and freshwater differ?
Seawater is denser, has higher salinity, conducts electricity better, and freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater.
What controls gas concentrations in the sea?
Temperature, salinity, biological processes (photosynthesis, respiration), and pressure.
What is the oxygen minimum zone, and why is it important?
A mid-depth layer (~200-1,000m) with low oxygen due to decomposition and limited circulation. It affects marine life distribution.
How does carbonic acid act as a buffer?
It maintains ocean pH by shifting between carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), and carbonate (CO₃²⁻) based on pH changes.
How does CO₂ affect calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) solubility?
CO₂ forms carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which lowers pH and dissolves CaCO₃. Less CO₂ makes the ocean more likely to precipitate CaCO₃.
What controls light penetration in the ocean?
Angle of sunlight, cloud cover, water clarity, and suspended particles.
What are the three oceanic light zones?
Euphotic: Enough light for photosynthesis.
Dysphotic: Light but not enough for photosynthesis.
Aphotic: No light, deep ocean.
How do sound waves behave in the ocean?
Sound speed increases with temperature and pressure, creating shadow zones (where sound bends away) and the SOFAR channel (where sound travels efficiently).
How are thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline different?
Thermocline: Rapid temperature change with depth.
Halocline: Salinity changes sharply.
Pycnocline: Density increases quickly, often due to the above two.
What are convergences and divergences in ocean circulation?
Convergences: Surface waters meet and sink (downwelling).
Divergences: Surface waters move apart, causing upwelling of deep, nutrient-rich water.
How do surface circulation and thermohaline circulation differ?
Surface circulation: Wind-driven, forms gyres.
Thermohaline circulation: Density-driven, moves deep water globally (ocean conveyor belt).
How do boundary currents and wind-driven currents in a gyre differ?
Boundary currents: Form the edges of gyres; Western ones (e.g., Gulf Stream) are strong and narrow, while Eastern ones (e.g., California Current) are weak and broad.
Wind-driven currents: Push surface water in circular patterns.
What causes equatorial countercurrents and undercurrents?
Countercurrents flow eastward beneath trade winds due to wind pressure differences, while undercurrents move deeper to balance water flow.
What is geostrophic flow, and why is it important?
Water moves in a curved path due to a balance between the Coriolis effect and gravity, maintaining large-scale ocean currents.
What drives Eckman spiral and ocean circulation?
Wind causes surface layers to move at an angle due to Coriolis deflection, creating spiraling water movement down the column.
How do winds form, and where are windless zones?
Winds form due to uneven solar heating. Windless zones include the doldrums (low wind near the equator) and horse latitudes (subtropical high pressure).
What are the three major atmospheric convection cells?
Hadley cells: Near the equator; trade winds.
Ferrel cells: Mid-latitudes; westerlies.
Polar cells: Near poles; polar easterlies
What is the Coriolis effect, and why is it important?
The rotation of Earth causes moving air and water to curve—right in the Northern Hemisphere, left in the Southern Hemisphere.
How do winds and currents change with the seasons?
Seasonal temperature differences shift pressure zones, altering wind and current patterns, like monsoons in the Indian Ocean.
What is the global ocean conveyor belt?
A worldwide system of deep and surface currents that regulates climate by transporting heat and nutrients.
How do underwater waterfalls and meddies form?
Dense, cold water sinks and flows along the seafloor, creating powerful currents and mixing zones.
What are hypersaline-induced circulation and estuarine circulation?
Hypersaline: Driven by extreme evaporation (e.g., Mediterranean outflow).
Estuarine: Freshwater outflow meets seawater, forming layered mixing zones.
What are the major types of sea ice?
Pancake ice: Round pieces forming early in freezing.
Pack ice: Large floating ice masses.
Ice floes: Free-floating ice sheets.
Tabular bergs: Large, flat icebergs.
