Earth Science Oceanography – Flashcards
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Deep Ocean Currents
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an ocean current formed when cold water flows underneath warm water.
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Surface Currents
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a horizontal movement of the ocean water and is caused by wind and that occurs near the top of the surface of the water.
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Coriolis Effect
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the effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.
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Deflect/Deflection
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To turn aside or redirect; to cause to go in another direction., To turn aside or redirect; to cause to go in another direction
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Density
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the amount of matter in a given space.
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Salinity
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proportion of salt in a solution
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Abyssal Plain
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broad, flat portion of the deep-ocean basin
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Continental Shelf
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shallow area of the ocean floor that extends outward from the edge of a continent.
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Continental Slope
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a steep incline leading down from the edge of the continental shelf.
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Trench
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a long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor
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Mid-Ocean Ridge
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An undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced.
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Guyot
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Flat-topped seamount.
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Seamount
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an underwater mountain rising above the ocean floor
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Continental Rise
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the gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope
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Active Margin
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A continental margin that is colliding with another plate.
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Passive Margin
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Edge of a continent along which there is no tectonic activity.
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Coastline/Shoreline
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the border between land and an ocean, a sea, or a lake.
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Global Ocean Conveyor
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movement of warm and cold water
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Low Latitudes
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is an area between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south of the equator.
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High Latitudes
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are located between 60° and 90° latitude, in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
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Gyre
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a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles
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Thermohaline Circulation
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water circulation produced by differences in temperature and/or salinity and partly Density.
