Ocean Currents
What is an ocean current?
Continuous directed movement of sea water driven by gravity,wind, Coriolis Effect
What causes waves to slow down?
Force exerted by the seabed
What ocean on Earth has the least salinity?
Arctic Ocean
Why are tides not at the same time every day?
Earth's rotation
What is water said to be?
Universal Solvent
What drives surface currents?
Global wind systems
What is wave size dependent on?
Wind speed, wind duration, and Fetch
What are Plankton?
Diverse collection of organisms found in water that are unable to propel themselves against currents(wind).
What is Oceanography?
Study of the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the sea or ocean
What is the process called where water collects to create rivers, lakes, and oceans?
Accumulation
What is an upwelling and where are they?
The rising of seawater, magma, or other liquid. Occurs along the west coasts of countries (California, Northwest Africa)
What is Turbidity?
Measure of the degree to which the water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates
What is the Pelagic Zone?
Open and free waters in the ocean that stretch between the ocean surface and bottom and are not close to boundaries,shore,seafloor, or surface.
Why don’t we use more desalination?
This is more expensive and would damage the environment
What percentage of the Earth’s water is drinkable?
2%-3%
How long does it take for the THC to circulate?
About 1,000 years
What are Barrier Beaches/Islands?
Coastal landforms and a type of dune system that is flat or lumpy areas of sand that form by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast
What is a Thermocline?
Thin distinct layer in a large body of fluid in which temperature changes with depth instead of the layers above and below
What are the three major parts of the Ocean Topography?
Continental shelf,slope, rise
What is the process by which rain, hail, or snow falls from the sky called?
Precipitation
How many gyres are there and what are they called?
There are 5 gyres.
North Atlantic Gyre, South Atlantic Gyre,North Pacific Gyre,South Pacific Gyre,Indian Ocean Gyre
How do Sand Dunes prevent Beach Erosion?
Providing natural coastal protection against storm surge and high waves preventing or reducing coastal flooding and structural damage
What is the Hadal Zone?
Deepest region of the ocean, lying within oceanic trenches
What is a spring tide?
A tide just after a new moon or full moon (greatest difference between high and low water)
The property of water which causes it to hold together and form droplets is called?
Cohesion