Biological Oceanography Exam 1 – Flashcards

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The first exclusively oceanographic expedition was undertaken on the:
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HMS Challenger
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Who is considered by many to be the first marine biologist?
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Aristotle
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T/F. Water is a polar molecule.
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True
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Heat is measured in:
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Calories
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Compared to air, the specific heat of water is:
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Much higher
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Hydrogen bonds hold water together. This property is known as:
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Cohesion
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The maximum density of pure water occurs at what temperature?
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4 o C
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Above 4 oC, what effect does increasing temperature have on water density?
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Density decreases
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T/F. When salts are dissolved in water, the density of the water decreases.
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False
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As light passes through water, it is absorbed and scattered by:
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water molecules ions suspended particles
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T/F. A positively charged ion is called a cation.
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True
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How many grams of salt are contained in a liter of typical seawater?
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35
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Which of the following ions is a major constituent of seawater?
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sulfate bicarbonate sodium
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During photosynthesis, plants use:
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carbon dioxide
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During respiration, plants use:
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Oxygen
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If there are more H+ cations than OH- anions in a solution, it would be considered:
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Acidic
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The pH of an acidic solution would be:
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below 7
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The pH of seawater (average) is:
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7.8
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The saturation concentration of a gas in seawater depends on:
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temperature salinity pressure
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T/F. Desalination is the process of obtaining salt water from fresh water.
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False
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Instantaneous solar radiation per unit area on Earth is greatest at the:
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equator
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What percent of incoming solar radiation is absorbed at Earth's surface?
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47.5
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The oceans can absorb and release large amounts of heat with little change in temperature due to the high ? of water.
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Specific Heat
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The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth is the:
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Troposphere
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The ozone layer is mostly in the:
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stratosphere
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The atmosphere is composed mostly of:
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nitrogen
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Which reservoir holds the largest amount of carbon dioxide?
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The ocean
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In the northern hemisphere, air is deflected in which direction relative to Earth's surface?
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To the right
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In the southern hemisphere, the Trade Winds come from the:
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southeast
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El Nino is characterized by:
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a period of anomalous climatic conditions warm surface water in the eastern Pacific a lack of upwelling off the Peruvian coast
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Biodiversity
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Ocean covers 70% of Earth's surface and provides 99% of all habitable space Life probably originated in the sea
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Chronometer
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Timekeeping device of great accuracy, especially used in measuring longitude
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Atoll
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A former volcanic island; ring-like island and coral reef that surrounds a lagoon. Island sank. Theory by Darwin
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SONAR
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Sound navigation and ranging developed during WWII to find submarines Used today to determine: Water depth Bottom characteristics Schools of fish
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ROV
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Remotely operated vehicle Unmanned Tethered to a ship Take samples Smaller, more maneuverable than submarines Jason took first pictures of Titanic
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AUV
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Autonomous underwater vehicel for mapping, long periods of time, no people, deeper, has sensors affiliated with sonar salinity and temp
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Scientific Method
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Scientific conclusions are based on observations
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Induction
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using separate, specific observations to arrive at general principles
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Deduction
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using general principles to make specific conclusions
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Azoic Theory
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proposed by Edward Forbes, stated that life did not exist on the sea depths beyond 300 fathoms
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Aristotle
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"first marine biologist" Realized that fish use gills to breathe
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Carolus Linneaus
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System for naming species
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Georges Cuvier
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Major scheme for classification based on body plan
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James Cook
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first to make scientific observations, beginning in 1768 Full time naturalist on board brought back specimens of plants and animals Explored all oceans on three voyages First to use chronometer
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Edward Forbes
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used a dredge to collect organisms on sea floor Different species found at different depths No. of animals decreased with increasing depth Azoic Theory
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Charles Darwin
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sailed around world on HMS Beagle Theory of evolution by natural selection Treatise on barnacles Theory of formation of atolls
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HMS Beagle
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5 year voyage of Charles Darwin
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HMS Challenger
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was first dedicated oceanographic expedition Led by Charles Wyville Thompson in 1872 Sailed around the world over 3 years Collected samples of water and organisms Systematic fashion Meticulous notes Took 19 years to publish in 50 volumes Foundation for modern marine science
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Charles Wyville Thompson
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led the first true oceanographic expedition on the HMS Challenger
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Covalent bond
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A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
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Polar molecule
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Molecule with an unequal distribution of charge, resulting in the molecule having a positive end and a negative end
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Hydrogen bond
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A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.
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Temperature
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A measure of the average kinetic energy of the atoms and molecules in the substance
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Heat
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a measure of total kinetic energy of atoms and molecules in a substance
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Latent heat of fusion
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the heat needed to change water from a solid to a liquid (without a change in temperature)
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Latent heat of vaporization
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the heat needed to change water from a liquid to a vapor (without a change in temperature)
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Specific heat
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the quantity of heat required to produce a unit change in temperature per unit mass
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Cohesion
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Water molecules are attracted to each other and give water structure
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Adhesion
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An attraction between molecules of different substances
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Surface tension
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Cohesion of molecules at air-surface interface
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Capillary action
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Movement of water in spaces of a porous material
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Viscosity
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Resistance to motion
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Density
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mass per unit volume
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Freezing point depression
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As salinity increases, Initial freezing temperature of water decreases
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Conduction
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heat applied at one location increases molecular motion; this is passed on to adjacent molecules
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Convection
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density driven; a heated fluid moves and carries its heat to a new location
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Radiation
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direct transmission of heat from its energy source; does not require a medium
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Attenuation
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Decrease in light intensity over distance
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Salts
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Compounds that can break apart into atoms that have opposite charges
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Salinity
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Total quantity of dissolved salt Ocean water is 3.5% salt by weight
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Ionic bonds
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Electrons transferred from a metal atom (Na) to a nonmetal atom (Cl) Creates ions of opposite charge that attract each other Easily broken in water due to polar nature of water molecules
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Conservative constituents
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Cl-, Na+, So42-, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+
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Non-conservative constituents
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Ions that change in concentrations due to biological action
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Trace elements
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Elements present in seawater at less than 1 ppm
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Residence time
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Average time that a substance remains in solution in ocean
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Principle of constant proportion
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Regardless of total salt content, ratio of one major ion to another remains the same at all depths and locations
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Conductivity
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Conductivity of electric current through seawater varies with temperature and salinity
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Hydrometer
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Device used to determine density
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Refractometer
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Light refracted (bent) by seawater as a function of salinity
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Saturation concentration
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Maximum amount of gas that can be held in solution
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Euphotic zone
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Depth to which light penetrates helps define
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Plant Respiration
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Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
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Hypoxic
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pertaining to a low level of oxygen
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anoxic
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pertaining to the absence of oxygen
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Biological pump
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Phytoplankton produces ~40% of earth's organic material 90% is recycled in euphotic zone 10% is recycled below euphotic zone or deposited in sediments
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pH
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pH = -log [H+]
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Nutrients
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Ions required for plant growth
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Organics
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Produced and taken up by organisms
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Secchi disk
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A white + black plate-sized disk attached to a rope, that when lowered down into the water measures turbidity.
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SOFAR
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Zone of minimum sound velocity is: (SOund Fixing And Ranging (SOFAR) Channel) Sound produced in this layer cannot escape; bends toward region of minimum speed Travel great distances Used to detect increases in ocean temperature
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Redfield Ratio
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Found that molar ratio of C:N:P in seawater and phytoplankton was similar: 106:16:1 (when nutrients not limiting)
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Desalination
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Process of obtaining fresh water from salt water Change of state (liquid to solid or liquid to vapor) Electrodialysis Ion exchange Reverse osmosis
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Refraction
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Light is bent or refracted when it passes from air to water Affected by salinity, temperature and pressure
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Sea ice
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Formed from seawater When freezing occurs, salts are left behind Cold, salty water sinks and is replaced by less salty water which can freeze
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Icebergs
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Float with only 12% of mass above surface Formed by glaciers
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Advective fog
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Warm air saturated with water vapor moves over colder water
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Sea smoke
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Cold, dry air moves out over warmer water Air picks up water vapor and rises Rising air cooled below dewpoint
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Radiative fog
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Warm, moist air condenses at night forming fog
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Solar constant
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Without atmosphere, the radiation value at the equator would be 2.0 cal/cm2/min
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Troposphere
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Lowest layer Temperature decreases with altitude
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Tropopause
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minimum temperature zone between troposphere and stratosphere Contains jet streams
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Stratosphere
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Layer above troposphere is stratosphere Temperature increases with increasing altitude Contains ozone (03)
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Greenhouse gases
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Carbon dioxide Water vapor Nitrous oxide Methane
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Convection cells
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Warmer, moist (less dense) air rises and cooler, dryer (more dense) air sinks Between these areas, the air that flows horizontally is the wind
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Coriolis effect
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Air parcel moving north is displaced to the east (right) as the difference between the initial eastern velocity and the velocity at the higher latitude An air mass moving south would also be displaced to the east (left)
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Polar cells
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convection cell in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60° N and 60° S and sinks at the poles
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Ferrel cells
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Mid-latitude convection cells that create westerlies between 30 and 60
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Hadley cells
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A large-scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitudes, about 30 degrees north or south
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ITCZ
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ITCZ associated with highest surface temperatures Deflected north in summer land warmer Deflected south in winter ocean warmer Wettest latitude on earth
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Jet stream
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High speed winds of upper troposphere Polar jet streams are westerlies (50-60º N and S) Subtropical jet streams are easterlies (30º N and S) Position of jet streams important in determining weather in temperate zone
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Hurricanes
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Most violent storms on Earth Four stages of development Tropical disturbance Tropical depression Tropical storm Tropical cyclone (hurricane) Form near equator over warm ocean waters Pushed to west by trade winds
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Storm surge
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When storm reaches coast water level is raised due to: Elevated dome of water Wind pushing water ahead of storm Normal high tides
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El Nino (ENSO)
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During an El Niño event, surface pressure in Indonesian low is unusually high It moves eastward High pressure replaces it This periodic reversal of high and low pressure regions is called the Southern Oscillation Results in reverse of normal pressure gradient; trade winds weaken or reverse Warm water pushed eastward and accumulates along coast of Americas
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