water and ocean structure

Question 1

what is heat

Answer 1

Energy produced by the vibration of atoms/molecules

Question 2

what is temperature

Answer 2

Records only how rapidly the molecules of a substances are vibrating
*water molecules in hot water vibrate more rapidly than in cold water

Question 3

what two pure water’s significant properties is Celsius (o C) based on

Answer 3

Freezing point – 0 o C
Boiling Point 100 o C

Question 4

what is heat capacity

Answer 4

A measure of heat required to raise the temperature of 1gram of a substances by 1 o C

Question 5

what is a calorie

Answer 5

the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of pure water by 1 o C

Question 6

how does water temp affect its density

Answer 6

• Close to freezing point, water density actually decreases when temperature continues to cool
• Ice is lighter than an equal volume of water
• Ice density increases with colder temperature, but never reaches that of water

Question 7

how does evaporative cooling work

Answer 7

Water takes energy from somewhere to evaporate and remove heat from surfaces as it does e.g. water sweat takes heat energy from our bodies to evaporate, cooling us down

Question 8

how does Seawater and pure water have slightly different thermal properties

Answer 8

• Seawater is ~ 96.5% pure water and ~3.5% dissolved solids and gases
• Lowers freezing point
• Also changes calories needed to raise temperature

Question 9

what is thermal inertia

Answer 9

tendency to resist a change in temperature
- ~18,000 cubic km of ice thaws and refreezes in the Southern Hemisphere every year – moderates Earth’s temperature

Question 10

what moderates Earth’s temperature

Answer 10

Weather and Currents

Question 11

where is the most evaporation

Answer 11

peaks in subtropics not tropics – need colder air over warm water for evaporation – air and ocean are both warm in tropics

Question 12

3 Ocean density stratification zones

Answer 12

Surface zone / mixed layer – 2%
Pycnocline – 18%
Deep zone – 80%

Question 13

how do conditions change in all 3 zones

Answer 13

• Surface layer conditions are rather constant – good mixing due to surface wind mixing
• Pycnocline changes rapidly (cline = quick change)
• Deep zone – minor changes

Question 14

what is a Thermocline essentially

Answer 14

difference in temp on surface vs depths
- Polar waters lack a strong thermocline

Question 15

how does Thermocline depth and intensity vary

Answer 15

with season, local conditions (e.g. storms), currents, as well as other factors

Question 16

what is refraction

Answer 16

bending of waves
- can Bend the Paths of Light and Sound Through Water
- can create shadow zones - regions where sound waves are blocked or do not travel effectively due to sound refraction

Question 17

what is Refractive index

Answer 17

degree that light is bent traveling from one medium to another

Question 18

2 main light zones in the ocean

Answer 18

Photic zone – sunlit portion
Aphotic zone – no light

Question 19

does light or sound travel further in the the ocean

Answer 19

Sound Travels Much Farther Than Light Through the Ocean – but varies with depth (effected by temp and pressure)

Question 20

whats the SOFAR layer

Answer 20

naturally occurring, deep-ocean sound channel where sound waves can travel long distances with minimal loss of energy - due to the unique way temperature + pressure affect the speed of sound in water

Question 21

what can be used to detect Underwater Objects and its 2 types

Answer 21

Sonar Systems
- Active sonar (sound navigation and ranging)
- Passive sonar – listening only

Question 22

what can be used to monitor the changing climate

Answer 22

sound through ocean - as its influenced by temperature, pressure, and salinity