Unique Nature of Pure Water
What is known as the universal solvent?
Water
What is used to measure water clarity?
Secchi disk
What is the total amount of salt dissolved in water?
Salinity
What is the average pH of the ocean?
8.0-8.3
Where does the carbon that forms all organic molecules originally come from?
CO2 in the atmosphere
What is the measure of the elastic tendency of liquids?
Surface Tension
What color penetrates the deepest while the other colors are absorbed?
Blue Light
What are the two elements that make up 88% of the material dissolved in seawater?
Sodium and Chloride
As you go further down into the the ocean, what increases?
Pressure Increases
What process converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds like glucose?
Photosynthesis
The attraction of one water molecule to another is known as?
Hydrogen Bonding
What is SOFAR?
It is a naturally-occuring ocean "channel" that allows sound to carry great distances
What is the transition layer for depth and temperature called?
Thermocline
What substance, found in the shells and skeletons of many ocean organisms, is most vulnerable to damage from ocean acidification?
Calcium Carbonate
Name two ways how CO2 enters the atmosphere?
Decomposition and Respiration
What happens to water molecules when heat is added?
The water molecules move faster
Name at least 2 examples of why marine animals use sound.
communication, navigation, reproduction, and predator and prey detection.
What would cause variations to ocean salinity?
pure water (rivers, biological activity, hypothermal vents)
At what depth does the temperature not change? and what is that temperature?
1000m and just below freezing
Which organisms break down organic compounds to release carbon dioxide back into the environment? (3 answers).
Consumers, Decomposers, and Producers
Why is water unusual/unique?
It’s less dense as a solid than as a liquid
How does increasing water depth affect pressure, gases, and marine organisms?
For every 10 meters of depth, pressure increases by one atmosphere. This compresses gases, which can impact marine organisms and the scientists studying them.
How are trace elements removed from the ocean, and why are they important for marine life?
Most trace elements are removed when they become part of sinking particles, called marine snow. Many of these elements are also essential nutrients for marine organisms.
Describe the effects/process of ocean acidification?
Ocean acidification happens when the ocean absorbs extra carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air. This makes the water more acidic, which can dissolve or weaken the shells and skeletons of animals like clams, oysters, and corals that are made of calcium carbonate. It can also make it harder for these animals to grow and survive.
How does carbon move through the environment and living things?
Carbon moves from the atmosphere as CO2 into the ocean and into living things through photosynthesis, then is returned to the atmosphere by respiration.