Oceanography Quizlet – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Definition of Oceanography
answer
the study of the oceans. Includes marine geology, physical oceanography, and marine biology
question
Famous Marine Scientists
answer
Jacques Cousteau, Rachel Carson, James Cameron, and James Cook
question
Average Salinity
answer
about 3.5 percent
question
Salinity Definition
answer
Amount of Salt
question
Salt comes from...
answer
river runoff
question
With depth comes changes in...
answer
temperature and density
question
Three Ways Water Moves
answer
Waves, Tides, and Currents
question
Waves Definition
answer
the rise and fall of water, the build-up of water molecules
question
Primary Cause of Waves
answer
Wind
question
Secondary Cause of Waves
answer
Plate Tectonics
question
Currents Definition
answer
the circulation of water
question
Horizontal/Surface Currents Cause
answer
caused by the Earth's spin
question
Vertical/Convection Currents Cause
answer
caused by changes in Temperature and Density
question
Upwelling Definition
answer
a vertical current that brings nutrient rich water to the surface
question
Benefits of Upwellings
answer
It is beneficial for the food chain in the sunlight zone. Warm water rises bringing the nutrients from the ocean floor, cold water is pushed down/sinks.
question
Tides Definition
answer
a change in the water level due to the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon
question
How many high/low tides are there per day?
answer
there are 2 high tides and 2 low tides per day
question
How many types of tides are there per month?
answer
there are 2 types of tides per month
question
What are the types of tides in a month?
answer
Spring Tides and Neap Tides
question
Spring Tide Definition
answer
higher high tides and lower low tides (more drastic changes in the water level), during the new and full moon
question
Neap Tide Definition
answer
smaller changes between high tides and low tides (lower high tides and higher low tides), during the waning and waxing quarter moons
question
The Order of the Ocean Zones (highest to lowest)
answer
Sunlight Zone, Twilight Zone, Midnight Zone, Abyssal Zone, and the Hadal Zone
question
Sunlight Zone
answer
most life (and all plant life), about 200 m deep, epipelagic zone
question
Twilight Zone
answer
mesopelagic zone, about 800 m deep (down to 1000 m)
question
Midnight Zone
answer
bathypelagic zone, about 3000 m deep (down to 4000 meters)
question
Abyssal Zone
answer
about 2000 m deep (down to 6000 m)
question
Hadal Zone
answer
down to 11000 m, 5000 m deep (named after Hades, Greek God of the Underworld)
question
Ocean Ridge
answer
Any section of a narrow, continuous range of submarine mountains (a specific ridge of those mountains).
question
Abyssal Hill
answer
An abyssal hill is a small hill or mound that is underwater (of course) and rises from the floor of an abyssal plain (see below for definition of abyssal plain).
question
Abyssal Plain
answer
An abyssal plain is an underwater plain that can be found between 3000 - 6000 meters below the surface (in the Abyssal Zone). It generally has abyssal hills on it.
question
Volcanic Island
answer
A volcanic cone reaching (or reaching past) the ocean's surface.
question
Sea Mount
answer
A seamount is (along with a guyot) a geomorphic form developed by submarine volcanoes, so seamounts and guyots lie in chains of submarine volcanoes. Seamounts are generally at tall hill similar to the shape of a mountain or volcano.
question
Guyot
answer
A guyot is (along with a seamount) a geomorphic form developed by submarine volcanoes, so guyots and seamounts lie in chains of submarine volcanoes. Guyots are seamounts that have had their tops eroded off, giving guyots a sort of flattened look.
question
Deep Sea Trench
answer
A deep, narrow, steep-sided depression in the ocean's floor caused by two plates converging in which one sinks into the mantle. They can reach anywhere from 6000 to 11000 meters in depth.
question
Atoll
answer
Subsidence of a volcanic island with a growth of coral in a ring around it (a ring-shaped reef/island of coral).
