Unique Nature of Pure Water
What type of bond holds water molecules together, making them stick to each other?
What is Hydrogen bonds
What is the measure of dissolved salts in seawater called?
What is Salinity
What two ions make up most of the salt in seawater?
What’s is Sodium and chloride
What gas released by humans is mainly responsible for ocean acidification?
What is Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
What process by plants and algae removes CO₂ from the atmosphere?
What is Photosynthesis
What property of water allows insects like water striders to walk on its surface?
What is Surface tension
What unit is salinity commonly measured in?
What is Parts per thousand (ppt)
What is the average salinity of the ocean?
What is About 35 ppt
When CO₂ dissolves in seawater, what substance forms that lowers pH?
What is Carbonic acid
What process releases CO₂ back into the atmosphere when organisms use energy?
What is Respiration
Ice floats in water. What happens to water molecules when they freeze that makes this possible?
What is They spread apart, becoming less dense
Warm water floats above cold water in the ocean. What is the name of this layer where temperature rapidly changes with depth?
What is Thermocline
What is the rule stating that the relative proportions of major ions in seawater remain constant?
What is The Rule of Constant Proportions
A drop in ocean pH makes it harder for shell-making organisms to build shells. What mineral do they need?
What is Calcium carbonate
What is the term for the cycling of carbon between the ocean, land, atmosphere, and organisms?
What is The carbon cycle
What is the term for water’s ability to climb upward through narrow spaces due to cohesion and adhesion?
What is Capillary action
What happens to seawater density when salinity increases?
What is Density increases
What gas is more abundant dissolved in seawater than in the atmosphere because marine organisms need it for photosynthesis?
What is Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
How does increased acidity affect coral reefs?
What is It weakens corals and slows reef growth
Marine plankton store carbon when they die and sink. What is the effect of this on the atmosphere long-term?
What is It reduces atmospheric CO₂ by locking carbon in the deep ocean
Water can absorb a lot of heat without a large temperature change. What is this property called and why is it important for ocean organisms?
What is High heat capacity, prevents rapid temperature changes in the ocean environment
Name one physical process that can increase ocean salinity and one that can decrease it.
What’s is Increase: evaporation or sea ice formation
Decrease: precipitation, river runoff, or melting sea ice
What process adds oxygen to surface seawater and what process removes it?
What is Photosynthesis adds oxygen; respiration and decomposition remove oxygen
Why does the ocean absorbing more CO₂ not fully protect the atmosphere or climate?
What is It causes harmful chemical changes in the ocean even while temporarily reducing atmospheric CO₂
What human activity has most disrupted the natural carbon cycle, increasing CO₂ levels faster than oceans can absorb?
What is Burning fossil fuels