Home Page Flashcards Unit 2 Oceanography Test - Flashcards

Unit 2 Oceanography Test – Flashcards

Julia Rush

7 July 2022

question

Define coast

answer

from the ocean inland to where ocean processes no longer immediately affect the land

question

Define shore

answer

Where ocean meets land, limit of high tide

question

What are the differences between erosional and depositional coasts

answer

Erosional - (70% of coastlines) and more erosion occurs Depositional - (30% of coastlines) more deposition occurs

question

What are the age differences between depositional and erosional coasts

answer

Erosional coasts are generally new coasts while depositional are older, steady coasts

question

What is an erosional coast

answer

where erosion occurs to the coastline due to excessive waves, wind abrasion, or any other constant factor eating away at the coast.

question

What types of geological features would you expect to find along an erosional coastline

answer

sharp sea cliffs, sea caves, sea stacks, wave-cut platforms and occasionally natural bridges and blowholes

question

What processes are involved in turning an erosional coast with headlands and bays, into a straight coastline

answer

wave refraction create bays with small beaches, which results in wave energy being bent away from these bays, eventually creating straight coastline

question

What is a depositional coast

answer

growing coasts of accumulating sediments from land and sea or the remains of biological organisms

question

What type of geological features would you expect to find along a depositional coastline

answer

beaches, sand spits/bay mouth bars, barrier and sea islands and deltas (Covered with sand)

question

What is the source of most sand on continental beaches

answer

sand that is brought in by rivers

question

Sediment size related to slope of the beach

answer

Fine material - flatter beach Coarse material - steeper beach

question

What is a longshore drift

answer

movement of sediments along the coast

question

What causes longshore drift to occur

answer

wave action

question

What are the two components of longshore drift

answer

longshore currents and beach drift

question

What is a longshore current

answer

ocean current that moves parallel to shore

question

What generates longshore currents

answer

incomplete refraction of waves approaching the beach at an angle

question

How do longshore currents move sand along the beach

answer

they move the sand in the direction the current is flowing and constantly transports it down the shore line

question

What is beach drift

answer

the movement of sand particles down a beach

question

What is a groin and how does it impede longshore drift

answer

It is a man made structure that slows the waves down and keeps the longshore drift from washing beaches or sand away from certain areas

question

What is a sand spit and why does it form

answer

deposition landform which is mainly found off coasts where re-entrant happens by long shore drift

question

What is a bay mouth bar

answer

It is a sand spit that completely closes and cuts off the main body of water

question

What are barrier and Sea islands

answer

barrier islands - islands that are oriented parallel to the mainland and made from depositional sand sea islands - islands that were originally attached to the mainland and have a rock core instead of sand (erodes faster than barrier islands)

question

What are estuaries

answer

semi enclosed basin where river water mixes with ocean water

question

How does the salinity in an estuary differ from a river or ocean

answer

The salinity is mixed from the fresh river water and salty ocean water making it slightly salty. So saltier than rivers and less salty than oceans.

question

What is a delta and what causes them

answer

a landform that forms at the mouth or a river and is formed by sediment laden rivers enter calm water and dump the sediments

question

What are the two types of biological coasts

answer

coral reefs and mangrove coasts

question

What are rip currents

answer

strong narrow seaward currents that flow through surf zones

question

How do you escape a rip current

answer

swim slowly parallel to shore until you escape the rip current

question

What is the chemical structure of the water molecule

answer

H2O

question

Why does the structure of a water make it a polar molecule

answer

Because one side is positive (Hydrogen) and the other is negative (Oxygen).

question

How does water's polar nature allow it to bond to ther water molecules

answer

because the negative and positive sides bond with opposite charges then the Hydrogen is attracted to the Oxygen end of another water molecule, allowing them to bond creating a HYDROGEN BOND

question

How is water unique because of its surface tension

answer

The surface tension of water is the highest of all common liquids

question

What is heat capacity

answer

amount of heat (in calories) required to raise the temperature of 1 gm of a substance by 1 C.

question

Does water have high low heat capacity and how does it affect water's temperature with heat input

answer

high heat capacity, preventing it from changing temperatures drastically from day and night. The high heat capacity is due to the hydrogen bonds.

question

What is thermal inertia

answer

the resistance to change in temperature with gain or loss of heat

question

What are water's three common states of water

answer

gas, liquid, solid

question

Why is water unique due to its physical states

answer

water is unusual because when it gets colder and freezes then it actually becomes less dense. most other substances become more dense

question

How does the density of water change when going from room temperature to its freezing point

answer

it becomes more dense up until it freezes. once frozen it reaches its least dense state

question

What is the temperature that pure water is most dense

answer

4 degrees C

question

Why is water unusual between 3.98 and 0 degrees C

answer

even though it is getting cooler, this is where water starts becoming less dense as it begins to expand and freeze

question

What happens to water's volume in the temperature range of 3.98 and 0 degrees C

answer

it will increase and expand

question

How does water's molecular structure change as it cools

answer

it expands as the hydrogen bond angles change to 109, causing more space between each hydrogen bond

question

What is Latent Heat of Fusion

answer

heat removed during freezing or added during thawing that produce change in state but not change in temperature

question

What is Latent Heat of Vaporization

answer

heat added during evaporation or released during condensation that produce a change in state but not a change in temperature

question

How much heat is required to change ice into liquid water

answer

80 cal/gm 0 degrees C

question

How much heat is required to change liquid water to water vapor

answer

540 cal/gram at 100 degrees C

question

What characteristics or water molecules makes it a universal solvent

answer

its polar nature breaks up the compounds help together by ionic bonds, causing more substances being able to dissolve in it.

question

What is salinity

answer

the total concentration of dissolved organic solids in water

question

what are the different units used for salinity

answer

%o, ppt, parts/thousand

question

Ho does salinity change the boiling point, freezing point, and heat capacity of water

answer

boiling point - increases heat capacity and freezing points - decreases

question

Which dissolved ions are first and second most common in seawater

answer

(Most abundant) 1-chloride, 2-sodium, (Trace elements) 3-sulfate, 4-magnesium, 5-calcium, 6-potassium, 7-bicarbonate

question

What is the average salinity of the ocean

answer

34.7 ppt

question

Where does the salinity of the ocean originate from

answer

weathering and erosion from rocks

question

Where does the chloride in the ocean originate from

answer

outgassing on land and ocean floor

question

What is the definition of "mixing time"

answer

how long it takes a substance to mix (circulate) throughout the ocean

question

What is the mixing time of the ocean

answer

1600 years

question

What is "residence time"

answer

the average length of time a dissolved substance spends in the ocean

question

How does residence time relate to how well components of seawater are distributed throughout the ocean

answer

depending on the rate at which the elements mixing time is depends on how distributed it is, as most of the elements residence time is much longer than oceans mixing time

question

How is residence time related to mixing time

answer

depending on the residence time, the elements could outlast the mixing time and become more evenly distributed throughout the ocean

question

What is the principle of constant proportions

answer

the proportion of major elements in seawater remains nearly constant even though the total salinity may vary with location

question

How can you use the principle of constant proportions to measure one of the dissolved solids, then use that to get complete salinity

answer

since the major elements in seawater is constant, you can get measurement of one element then use a formula to determine the complete salinity

question

What processes happen at the surface of the ocean that change the surface salinity, and how the salinity is affected by them

answer

precipitation, river input, or melting ice - Lowers salinity evaporation or ice formation - Raises salinity

question

What are the types of instruments used to measure salinity and which property of seawater the instrument uses to measure salinity

answer

refractometer - refraction, salinometer - conductivity, hydrometer - specific gravity

question

What is the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere compared to the ocean

answer

atmosphere - .038% ocean - 15%

question

How do O2 and CO2 vary with depth

answer

amounts of O2 decrease with depth and CO2 amounts increase

question

How do temperature, salinity, and pressure affect the concentration of gases in the ocean

answer

low temp, fresher water - more gas dissolved warm temp, saltier water - less gas dissolved

question

Which climatic region of our planet would allow the most gas to be dissolved based on temp and salinity

answer

polar regions - due to colder, fresher water

question

What is the pH scale used for

answer

to determine the acidity of the water

question

What is the average pH of seawater and is it alkaline or acidic

answer

~8 and is slightly alkaline

question

What is the relation of pH to the acid-base balance of the ocean

answer

the acid-base balance of the ocean is directly measured by the pH scale

question

What range on the pH scale is considered acidic and which is considered basic (or alkaline)

answer

below 7 is acidic above 7 is basic or alkaline 7 is neutral (pure water)

question

How increases and decreases in dissolved CO2 affects the pH of the ocean

answer

when CO2 dissolved in the ocean it can go through chemical reactions and change the pH of the ocean

question

How is the pH of our ocean changing due to the extra CO2 being absorbed by the ocean

answer

more CO2 means lower pH (more acidic) less CO2 means higher pH (more basic)

question

What are the 3 main physical properties of the ocean

answer

salinity, temperature, density

question

What are the names of the 3 layers found in the ocean from the surface to the bottom

answer

surface layer (mixed layer) transitional layer (thermocline) deep layer

question

Why is the surface layer often called the mixed layer

answer

there is mixing by waves that often causes the temp and salinity to be constant

question

What kind of variabities do temperature and salinity typically have in the surface layer

answer

salinity - rainfall, evaporation, ice melting and ice forming temperature - solar radiation throughout seasons of year

question

How does the mixing of waves affect the salinity, temp and density of the surface layer

answer

the temperature and salinity remain constant at the surface layer but the density increases due to pressure increases from depth

question

How can you identify the surface layer in a vertical temp profile

answer

the surface temps vary depending on latitude (warmest in tropics and coldest at poles)

question

How does the density in the mixed layer and why

answer

density increases with depth due to the pressure

question

What is the halocline and how does salinity change within it

answer

the halocline is the transitional layer when dealing with salinity. the salinity increases with depth due to lack of fresh water variables

question

What is the thermocline and how temperature changes within it

answer

thermocline is the transitional layer when dealing with temperature. the temperature decreases with depth due to lack of sunlight

question

How do you identify the thermocline in a vertical temperature profile

answer

the depth and the temperature will be opposite making it an inverse relationship

question

What is a pycnocline and how does density change within it

answer

pycnocline is the transitional layer when dealing with density. density always gradually increases with depth due to pressure increases

question

What is the % of water is in the deep zone/layer of the ocean in the mid to low latitudes

answer

80%

question

What are the relative variabities that temperature and salinity have in deep layer

answer

there are very little variablities of temperature and salinity in the deep layer. this is due to the lack of sunlight (temperature) and fresh water variables (salinity) that deep

question

What is an XBT and what property does it measure

answer

Expendable Bathythermograph - measures subsurface temperatures

question

Does an XBT measure surface values or values over a depth, and does it measure globally or at a single point

answer

it measures both surface and depth values but mainly for depth, and it measures the temp in a single point

question

What is an AVHRR and what property does it measure

answer

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer - it measures surface temperature. it determines surface values only and measures globally

question

What is the definition and formula for density of seawater

answer

mass per unit volume of water D=M/V

question

What properties affect the density of seawater

answer

temperature, salinity and depth (pressure)

question

What are the relationships that temp, salinity, and pressure have on density

answer

direct relationships - salinity and pressure go up, so does density inverse relationships - temperature goes up and density goes down

question

Which combination of temperature and salinity produces the least and most dense water

answer

least - warm, less salty water more - cold, saltier water

question

What is electromagnetic radiation

answer

the radiant energy Earth receives from the sun

question

What kind of waves make up the electromagnetic spectrum

answer

radio, television, microwave, infrared, visible light, U-V, X rays

question

Which wavelengths of visible light penetrates deepest in the ocean

answer

blue is the deepest followed by green and violet

question

which wavelengths get absorbed the quickest in the ocean

answer

infrared then red

question

what are photic and aphotic zones

answer

photic - lighted water (avg 100m depth) aphotic - no light (greater than 100m depth)

question

where are photic and aphotic zones found vertically in the ocean

answer

photic is on average the first 100m down then everything below that is aphotic

question

how does the amount of electromagnetic energy that reaches the surface of Earth vary with latitude

answer

there are more at the tropics due to being more vertical and less at the poles due to a lower angle being presented

question

What is heat budget

answer

The total of incoming and outgoing radiation. (earth gaining heat from incoming short-wave radiation and losing heat from radiating long-wave)

question

how does the tilt of our planet affect the amount of energy that reaches the surface of our planet during the different seasons of the year

answer

during summers that part of the planet is towards the sun and in the winter it is away from the sun.

question

which latitudinal region on Earth has a net gain in heat. which has the net loss of heat

answer

tropics - net heat gain poles - net heat loss

question

what are the latitudes on our planets that are balanced in regards to heat gain and heat loss

answer

38 degrees N and 38 degrees S

question

which is more important in balancing our latitudinal heat imbalance on our planet, ocean or atmospheric pressure

answer

atmospheric pressure as 2/3 is transfered by air and only 1/3 is transfered by ocean

question

what is the difference between weather and climate

answer

weather - the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and location climate - the long term average of weather at a location

question

what is atmospheric circulation

answer

wind

question

what happens to the volume and density of air as it is heated or cooled

answer

heated - becomes less dense, rises and expands cooled - more dense, sinks and compresses

question

what is the coriolis effect

answer

the tendency for any object to deflect from its course due to the rotation of the Earth (northern hemisphere veers right and southern hemisphere veers left)

question

what are the names of the circulational cells

answer

hadley cell, ferrel cell and polar cell

question

which are the names and latitudinal regions that each of the circulational cells cover

answer

hadley - equator (0-30 degrees N and S) ferrel - 30 - (50 or 60) degrees N and S polar - (50-60) - N and S poles

question

what are the direction of the dependable surface winds of each atmospheric circulation cell

answer

hadley - easterly trade winds ferrel - westerlies polar - polar easterlies

question

what are doldrums

answer

rising air between the two hadley cells

question

what is the ITCZ and what are the surface winds converging there

answer

Intertropical Convergence Zone - slack winds

question

is the air moving vertically or horizontally in the doldrums/ITCZ

answer

vertically

question

what kind of atmospheric conditions are common in the doldrums/ITCZ

answer

calm and wet

question

at which average latitude does the doldrum/ITCZ occur and why they occur at that latitude

answer

the equator, and occurs because of strong heating that causes surface air to rise

question

how does the locations of the doldrums/ITCZ vary between summer and winter

answer

it will shift between 5 degrees N and S

question

what are the names of the two circulation cells on both sides of the doldrum

answer

hadley cells

question

what are the meteorological and thermal equators

answer

an imaginary line of thermal equilibrium that is not a straight line and moves slightly N in our summer and slight S in our winter (avg ~5 deg N)

question

how does the meteorological (thermal) equator correlate with the doldums/ITCZ

answer

the ITCZ is actually located at the thermal equator instead of the geographical equator

question

how does the meteorological (thermal) equator differ from the geographical equator

answer

the geographical equator is set at 0 deg and the thermal equator fluctuates between 5 deg N and S

question

what are horse latitudes and what causes them to form

answer

the latitudes between where the hadley and ferrel cells converge. they are formed by the sinking air (moving vertically downward)

question

what kind of atmospheric conditions are common in the horse latitudes

answer

warm and dry

question

what are monsoons and what regions are most affected by them

answer

patterns of wind circulation that changes with the season - doldrums (trade winds) region

question

how do the winds and atmospheric conditions between summer and winter in the monsoons

answer

summer - more nothern hemisphere monsoons meaning wet summers winter - southern hemisphere monsoons meaing dry winters

question

what are extratropical cyclones and where do they tend to form

answer

cyclones that form at the boundary between the polar cell and ferrel cell - polar front

question

what are the different regional names given to tropical cyclones

answer

typhoon, hurricane, tropical cyclone, willi-willi

question

what are the different directions that cyclones tend to rotate when in the northern and southern hemisphere

answer

Northern - counterclockwise Southern - clockwise

question

which regions of the world do tropical cyclones tend to form in

answer

typhoon - western pacific hurricane - eastern pacific or atlantic tropical cyclone - indian ocean willi willi - south western pacific around australia

question

what is the necessary ocean temperature that is needed to spawn a tropical cyclone

answer

temperatures exceeding 26 C

question

what is a storn surge

answer

low pressure in center of cyclone that causes water to dome up

question

how is the movement of a storm surge tied to a tropical cyclone

answer

it travels witht he tropical storm and filters upward causing a water dome to be sucked upwards as well

question

what happens to hen it comes ashore

answer

it carries the dome of water ashore and can cause tremendous damage

question

why is the storm surge often more dangerous than the winds of a tropical cyclone

answer

wind an destroy property but storm surges can also be destructive with their large heights of the domes. it also leads to severe flooding which can have a long term effect.

question

which way is a northerly wind blowing from

answer

north to south. whatever the type of wind is called is based on were it is blowing from

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question

Define coast

answer

from the ocean inland to where ocean processes no longer immediately affect the land

question

Define shore

answer

Where ocean meets land, limit of high tide

question

What are the differences between erosional and depositional coasts

answer

Erosional - (70% of coastlines) and more erosion occurs Depositional - (30% of coastlines) more deposition occurs

question

What are the age differences between depositional and erosional coasts

answer

Erosional coasts are generally new coasts while depositional are older, steady coasts

question

What is an erosional coast

answer

where erosion occurs to the coastline due to excessive waves, wind abrasion, or any other constant factor eating away at the coast.

question

What types of geological features would you expect to find along an erosional coastline

answer

sharp sea cliffs, sea caves, sea stacks, wave-cut platforms and occasionally natural bridges and blowholes

question

What processes are involved in turning an erosional coast with headlands and bays, into a straight coastline

answer

wave refraction create bays with small beaches, which results in wave energy being bent away from these bays, eventually creating straight coastline

question

What is a depositional coast

answer

growing coasts of accumulating sediments from land and sea or the remains of biological organisms

question

What type of geological features would you expect to find along a depositional coastline

answer

beaches, sand spits/bay mouth bars, barrier and sea islands and deltas (Covered with sand)

question

What is the source of most sand on continental beaches

answer

sand that is brought in by rivers

question

Sediment size related to slope of the beach

answer

Fine material - flatter beach Coarse material - steeper beach

question

What is a longshore drift

answer

movement of sediments along the coast

question

What causes longshore drift to occur

answer

wave action

question

What are the two components of longshore drift

answer

longshore currents and beach drift

question

What is a longshore current

answer

ocean current that moves parallel to shore

question

What generates longshore currents

answer

incomplete refraction of waves approaching the beach at an angle

question

How do longshore currents move sand along the beach

answer

they move the sand in the direction the current is flowing and constantly transports it down the shore line

question

What is beach drift

answer

the movement of sand particles down a beach

question

What is a groin and how does it impede longshore drift

answer

It is a man made structure that slows the waves down and keeps the longshore drift from washing beaches or sand away from certain areas

question

What is a sand spit and why does it form

answer

deposition landform which is mainly found off coasts where re-entrant happens by long shore drift

question

What is a bay mouth bar

answer

It is a sand spit that completely closes and cuts off the main body of water

question

What are barrier and Sea islands

answer

question

What are estuaries

answer

semi enclosed basin where river water mixes with ocean water

question

How does the salinity in an estuary differ from a river or ocean

answer

The salinity is mixed from the fresh river water and salty ocean water making it slightly salty. So saltier than rivers and less salty than oceans.

question

What is a delta and what causes them

answer

a landform that forms at the mouth or a river and is formed by sediment laden rivers enter calm water and dump the sediments

question

What are the two types of biological coasts

answer

coral reefs and mangrove coasts

question

What are rip currents

answer

strong narrow seaward currents that flow through surf zones

question

How do you escape a rip current

answer

swim slowly parallel to shore until you escape the rip current

question

What is the chemical structure of the water molecule

answer

H2O

question

Why does the structure of a water make it a polar molecule

answer

Because one side is positive (Hydrogen) and the other is negative (Oxygen).

question

How does water's polar nature allow it to bond to ther water molecules

answer

because the negative and positive sides bond with opposite charges then the Hydrogen is attracted to the Oxygen end of another water molecule, allowing them to bond creating a HYDROGEN BOND

question

How is water unique because of its surface tension

answer

The surface tension of water is the highest of all common liquids

question

What is heat capacity

answer

amount of heat (in calories) required to raise the temperature of 1 gm of a substance by 1 C.

question

Does water have high low heat capacity and how does it affect water's temperature with heat input

answer

high heat capacity, preventing it from changing temperatures drastically from day and night. The high heat capacity is due to the hydrogen bonds.

question

What is thermal inertia

answer

the resistance to change in temperature with gain or loss of heat

question

What are water's three common states of water

answer

gas, liquid, solid

question

Why is water unique due to its physical states

answer

water is unusual because when it gets colder and freezes then it actually becomes less dense. most other substances become more dense

question

How does the density of water change when going from room temperature to its freezing point

answer

it becomes more dense up until it freezes. once frozen it reaches its least dense state

question

What is the temperature that pure water is most dense

answer

4 degrees C

question

Why is water unusual between 3.98 and 0 degrees C

answer

even though it is getting cooler, this is where water starts becoming less dense as it begins to expand and freeze

question

What happens to water's volume in the temperature range of 3.98 and 0 degrees C

answer

it will increase and expand

question

How does water's molecular structure change as it cools

answer

it expands as the hydrogen bond angles change to 109, causing more space between each hydrogen bond

question

What is Latent Heat of Fusion

answer

heat removed during freezing or added during thawing that produce change in state but not change in temperature

question

What is Latent Heat of Vaporization

answer

heat added during evaporation or released during condensation that produce a change in state but not a change in temperature

question

How much heat is required to change ice into liquid water

answer

80 cal/gm 0 degrees C

question

How much heat is required to change liquid water to water vapor

answer

540 cal/gram at 100 degrees C

question

What characteristics or water molecules makes it a universal solvent

answer

its polar nature breaks up the compounds help together by ionic bonds, causing more substances being able to dissolve in it.

question

What is salinity

answer

the total concentration of dissolved organic solids in water

question

what are the different units used for salinity

answer

%o, ppt, parts/thousand

question

Ho does salinity change the boiling point, freezing point, and heat capacity of water

answer

boiling point - increases heat capacity and freezing points - decreases

question

Which dissolved ions are first and second most common in seawater

answer

(Most abundant) 1-chloride, 2-sodium, (Trace elements) 3-sulfate, 4-magnesium, 5-calcium, 6-potassium, 7-bicarbonate

question

What is the average salinity of the ocean

answer

34.7 ppt

question

Where does the salinity of the ocean originate from

answer

weathering and erosion from rocks

question

Where does the chloride in the ocean originate from

answer

outgassing on land and ocean floor

question

What is the definition of "mixing time"

answer

how long it takes a substance to mix (circulate) throughout the ocean

question

What is the mixing time of the ocean

answer

1600 years

question

What is "residence time"

answer

the average length of time a dissolved substance spends in the ocean

question

How does residence time relate to how well components of seawater are distributed throughout the ocean

answer

depending on the rate at which the elements mixing time is depends on how distributed it is, as most of the elements residence time is much longer than oceans mixing time

question

How is residence time related to mixing time

answer

depending on the residence time, the elements could outlast the mixing time and become more evenly distributed throughout the ocean

question

What is the principle of constant proportions

answer

the proportion of major elements in seawater remains nearly constant even though the total salinity may vary with location

question

How can you use the principle of constant proportions to measure one of the dissolved solids, then use that to get complete salinity

answer

since the major elements in seawater is constant, you can get measurement of one element then use a formula to determine the complete salinity

question

What processes happen at the surface of the ocean that change the surface salinity, and how the salinity is affected by them

answer

precipitation, river input, or melting ice - Lowers salinity evaporation or ice formation - Raises salinity

question

What are the types of instruments used to measure salinity and which property of seawater the instrument uses to measure salinity

answer

refractometer - refraction, salinometer - conductivity, hydrometer - specific gravity

question

What is the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere compared to the ocean

answer

atmosphere - .038% ocean - 15%

question

How do O2 and CO2 vary with depth

answer

amounts of O2 decrease with depth and CO2 amounts increase

question

How do temperature, salinity, and pressure affect the concentration of gases in the ocean

answer

low temp, fresher water - more gas dissolved warm temp, saltier water - less gas dissolved

question

Which climatic region of our planet would allow the most gas to be dissolved based on temp and salinity

answer

polar regions - due to colder, fresher water

question

What is the pH scale used for

answer

to determine the acidity of the water

question

What is the average pH of seawater and is it alkaline or acidic

answer

~8 and is slightly alkaline

question

What is the relation of pH to the acid-base balance of the ocean

answer

the acid-base balance of the ocean is directly measured by the pH scale

question

What range on the pH scale is considered acidic and which is considered basic (or alkaline)

answer

below 7 is acidic above 7 is basic or alkaline 7 is neutral (pure water)

question

How increases and decreases in dissolved CO2 affects the pH of the ocean

answer

when CO2 dissolved in the ocean it can go through chemical reactions and change the pH of the ocean

question

How is the pH of our ocean changing due to the extra CO2 being absorbed by the ocean

answer

more CO2 means lower pH (more acidic) less CO2 means higher pH (more basic)

question

What are the 3 main physical properties of the ocean

answer

salinity, temperature, density

question

What are the names of the 3 layers found in the ocean from the surface to the bottom

answer

surface layer (mixed layer) transitional layer (thermocline) deep layer

question

Why is the surface layer often called the mixed layer

answer

there is mixing by waves that often causes the temp and salinity to be constant

question

What kind of variabities do temperature and salinity typically have in the surface layer

answer

salinity - rainfall, evaporation, ice melting and ice forming temperature - solar radiation throughout seasons of year

question

How does the mixing of waves affect the salinity, temp and density of the surface layer

answer

the temperature and salinity remain constant at the surface layer but the density increases due to pressure increases from depth

question

How can you identify the surface layer in a vertical temp profile

answer

the surface temps vary depending on latitude (warmest in tropics and coldest at poles)

question

How does the density in the mixed layer and why

answer

density increases with depth due to the pressure

question

What is the halocline and how does salinity change within it

answer

the halocline is the transitional layer when dealing with salinity. the salinity increases with depth due to lack of fresh water variables

question

What is the thermocline and how temperature changes within it

answer

thermocline is the transitional layer when dealing with temperature. the temperature decreases with depth due to lack of sunlight

question

How do you identify the thermocline in a vertical temperature profile

answer

the depth and the temperature will be opposite making it an inverse relationship

question

What is a pycnocline and how does density change within it

answer

pycnocline is the transitional layer when dealing with density. density always gradually increases with depth due to pressure increases

question

What is the % of water is in the deep zone/layer of the ocean in the mid to low latitudes

answer

80%

question

What are the relative variabities that temperature and salinity have in deep layer

answer

there are very little variablities of temperature and salinity in the deep layer. this is due to the lack of sunlight (temperature) and fresh water variables (salinity) that deep

question

What is an XBT and what property does it measure

answer

Expendable Bathythermograph - measures subsurface temperatures

question

Does an XBT measure surface values or values over a depth, and does it measure globally or at a single point

answer

it measures both surface and depth values but mainly for depth, and it measures the temp in a single point

question

What is an AVHRR and what property does it measure

answer

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer - it measures surface temperature. it determines surface values only and measures globally

question

What is the definition and formula for density of seawater

answer

mass per unit volume of water D=M/V

question

What properties affect the density of seawater

answer

temperature, salinity and depth (pressure)

question

What are the relationships that temp, salinity, and pressure have on density

answer

direct relationships - salinity and pressure go up, so does density inverse relationships - temperature goes up and density goes down

question

Which combination of temperature and salinity produces the least and most dense water

answer

least - warm, less salty water more - cold, saltier water

question

What is electromagnetic radiation

answer

the radiant energy Earth receives from the sun

question

What kind of waves make up the electromagnetic spectrum

answer

radio, television, microwave, infrared, visible light, U-V, X rays

question

Which wavelengths of visible light penetrates deepest in the ocean

answer

blue is the deepest followed by green and violet

question

which wavelengths get absorbed the quickest in the ocean

answer

infrared then red

question

what are photic and aphotic zones

answer

photic - lighted water (avg 100m depth) aphotic - no light (greater than 100m depth)

question

where are photic and aphotic zones found vertically in the ocean

answer

photic is on average the first 100m down then everything below that is aphotic

question

how does the amount of electromagnetic energy that reaches the surface of Earth vary with latitude

answer

there are more at the tropics due to being more vertical and less at the poles due to a lower angle being presented

question

What is heat budget

answer

The total of incoming and outgoing radiation. (earth gaining heat from incoming short-wave radiation and losing heat from radiating long-wave)

question

how does the tilt of our planet affect the amount of energy that reaches the surface of our planet during the different seasons of the year

answer

during summers that part of the planet is towards the sun and in the winter it is away from the sun.

question

which latitudinal region on Earth has a net gain in heat. which has the net loss of heat

answer

tropics - net heat gain poles - net heat loss

question

what are the latitudes on our planets that are balanced in regards to heat gain and heat loss

answer

38 degrees N and 38 degrees S

question

which is more important in balancing our latitudinal heat imbalance on our planet, ocean or atmospheric pressure

answer

atmospheric pressure as 2/3 is transfered by air and only 1/3 is transfered by ocean

question

what is the difference between weather and climate

answer

weather - the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and location climate - the long term average of weather at a location

question

what is atmospheric circulation

answer

wind

question

what happens to the volume and density of air as it is heated or cooled

answer

heated - becomes less dense, rises and expands cooled - more dense, sinks and compresses

question

what is the coriolis effect

answer

the tendency for any object to deflect from its course due to the rotation of the Earth (northern hemisphere veers right and southern hemisphere veers left)

question

what are the names of the circulational cells

answer

hadley cell, ferrel cell and polar cell

question

which are the names and latitudinal regions that each of the circulational cells cover

answer

hadley - equator (0-30 degrees N and S) ferrel - 30 - (50 or 60) degrees N and S polar - (50-60) - N and S poles

question

what are the direction of the dependable surface winds of each atmospheric circulation cell

answer

hadley - easterly trade winds ferrel - westerlies polar - polar easterlies

question

what are doldrums

answer

rising air between the two hadley cells

question

what is the ITCZ and what are the surface winds converging there

answer

Intertropical Convergence Zone - slack winds

question

is the air moving vertically or horizontally in the doldrums/ITCZ

answer

vertically

question

what kind of atmospheric conditions are common in the doldrums/ITCZ

answer

calm and wet

question

at which average latitude does the doldrum/ITCZ occur and why they occur at that latitude

answer

the equator, and occurs because of strong heating that causes surface air to rise

question

how does the locations of the doldrums/ITCZ vary between summer and winter

answer

it will shift between 5 degrees N and S

question

what are the names of the two circulation cells on both sides of the doldrum

answer

hadley cells

question

what are the meteorological and thermal equators

answer

an imaginary line of thermal equilibrium that is not a straight line and moves slightly N in our summer and slight S in our winter (avg ~5 deg N)

question

how does the meteorological (thermal) equator correlate with the doldums/ITCZ

answer

the ITCZ is actually located at the thermal equator instead of the geographical equator

question

how does the meteorological (thermal) equator differ from the geographical equator

answer

the geographical equator is set at 0 deg and the thermal equator fluctuates between 5 deg N and S

question

what are horse latitudes and what causes them to form

answer

the latitudes between where the hadley and ferrel cells converge. they are formed by the sinking air (moving vertically downward)

question

what kind of atmospheric conditions are common in the horse latitudes

answer

warm and dry

question

what are monsoons and what regions are most affected by them

answer

patterns of wind circulation that changes with the season - doldrums (trade winds) region

question

how do the winds and atmospheric conditions between summer and winter in the monsoons

answer

summer - more nothern hemisphere monsoons meaning wet summers winter - southern hemisphere monsoons meaing dry winters

question

what are extratropical cyclones and where do they tend to form

answer

cyclones that form at the boundary between the polar cell and ferrel cell - polar front

question

what are the different regional names given to tropical cyclones

answer

typhoon, hurricane, tropical cyclone, willi-willi

question

what are the different directions that cyclones tend to rotate when in the northern and southern hemisphere

answer

Northern - counterclockwise Southern - clockwise

question

which regions of the world do tropical cyclones tend to form in

answer

typhoon - western pacific hurricane - eastern pacific or atlantic tropical cyclone - indian ocean willi willi - south western pacific around australia

question

what is the necessary ocean temperature that is needed to spawn a tropical cyclone

answer

temperatures exceeding 26 C

question

what is a storn surge

answer

low pressure in center of cyclone that causes water to dome up

question

how is the movement of a storm surge tied to a tropical cyclone

answer

it travels witht he tropical storm and filters upward causing a water dome to be sucked upwards as well

question

what happens to hen it comes ashore

answer

it carries the dome of water ashore and can cause tremendous damage

question

why is the storm surge often more dangerous than the winds of a tropical cyclone

answer

wind an destroy property but storm surges can also be destructive with their large heights of the domes. it also leads to severe flooding which can have a long term effect.

question

which way is a northerly wind blowing from

answer

north to south. whatever the type of wind is called is based on were it is blowing from

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