the world ocean Flashcards
definition ocean
- body of saline water covering earth
- belongs to hydropshere, containing more than 97% of it
- subdivided into 5 major oceans > pacific, atlantic, indian, arctic, southern antarctic
definition sea
- body of saline water associated w/ one of five oceans
- strictly speaking: partly or fully enclosed by land
types of sea
• marginal seas (randmeere) > sea partially enclosed (islands or peninsulas) > labrador sea
• mediterranean seas (mittelmeer) > completely enclosed
• regional seas > named by a region, near a region
• epeiric seas (inland) > completely surrounded by dry land or connected to ocean by river > black sea
hypsographic curve
• land: 29,2%
• ocean: 70.8%
• average elevation land: 840m
• average elevation depth ocean: 3729m
why is mapping floor of important?
- safety of ships
- improve weather predictions (tsunami predictions)
- better understanding (on how to protect ocean) of ocean
- expand knowledge ocean life
- exploitation of resources
why is it a two edged sword?
-mapping ocean will encourage others to help and protect ocean while some will take advantage of it and destroy and exploit ocean/resources > double edged sword
how can both sides benefit from exploration?
- make it possible that others have access to it (share it) but still not exploit it, by limiting the access > will still profit from it but also protect it
- find common ground
ways to map floor
- satalite mapping
- solar echoes > send sound waves, calculate depth
- drones
- sonar (vessels) > submarines on floor
distribution of earth’s water
- total global water:
• oceans: hold 96,5%
• other saline water: 0.9% > other storage for salt water
• fresh water: 2,5% > consists of 70% glaciers and ice caps, and 30% ground water
the water cycle
- cycle which represents the path water can take in its different states within the spheres: ocean, land, atmosphere
the water cycle explained:
- water from water bodies evaporates and rises to atmosphere
- ice on mountains sublimates and rises to atmosphere
- plants, humans, surfaces release water trough transpiration
- > condenses to form clouds > clouds release precipitation (rain, snow)
- surface flow > rivers
- deposits on mountainz
- absorbed through soil > ground water
- ground water taken up by planets again
- cycle repeats
water budget elements: water balance equation
- precipitation (P): both over water and land surfaces
- runoff (R): surface flow, interflow, groundwater flow .> flowing back into ocean
- evapotranspiration (E): evaporation + transpiration
- Storage (S): lentic water, ice, glaciers, infiltration (stausee)
ocean currents - the global ocean conveyer belt:
- what is it?
- system of ocean that transport water around world
- ocean currents: patterns of water movement, which influence climate zones and weather patterns around world
- primarily driven by sea water density and by wind > two currents: surface and deepwater currents
how do ocean currents work?
- at poles, cold ocean water becomes saltier/denser and then this cold, dense, salty water sinks to seafloor, creating deep currents
- currents flows freely towards equator and starts to warm up > becoming less dense, rising to surface in upwellings > surface current
- warm water flows towards pole completing cycle
what is the importance of ocean currents?
- keeps earth’s climate stable (regulate them)
- hugely impact humankind and biosphere in general
