Term
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Definition
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What are the four main oceans? |
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Definition
The Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian Oceans |
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Definition
Sending sound waves into the ocean to study the ocean floor. |
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What does SONAR stand for? |
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Definition
Sound, navigation and ranging |
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Definition
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What are submersibes used for? |
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Definition
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What is the continental margin? |
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Definition
The zone of transition between a continent and the adjacent ocean basin. |
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What is the continental shelf? |
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Definition
The gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope. |
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Term
What is the mid-ocean ridge? |
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Definition
Underwater mountains developed on newly formed ocean crust. |
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Term
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Definition
Compact chemical structures made of wate and natural gas, created when bacteria break down organic matter in ocean-floor sediments. |
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Term
What is the most economically important salt? |
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Definition
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Definition
The amount of solid material dissolved in water. |
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Term
Where does salt come from? |
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Definition
Chemical weathering of rocks on the continents; elements from Earth's interior. |
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Term
What are some preocesses thet decrese salinity? |
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Definition
Precipitation, sea ice melting, and runoff from land. |
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Term
What are some processes that increase salinity? |
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Definition
Evaporation and formation of sea ice. |
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Term
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Definition
The ocean layer between 300 to 1,000 meters in depth where there is a rapid change in temperature. |
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Term
What is an effect of the thermocline? |
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Definition
It creates a barrier to most of marine life. |
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Term
What are two main factors that influence seawater density? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Shallow layer 300 to 450 meters in depth; sun warmed |
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Term
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Definition
Intermediate zone; gets colder as depth increases |
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Term
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Definition
Zone of the ocean where sunlight never reaches; temperature is always just above freezing; high density |
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Definition
All organisms that drift with the ocean currents. |
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Definition
Most important community of primary producers in the ocean. |
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Definition
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Definition
All animals capable of moving independantly of ocean currents |
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Definition
An organism living on the ocean surface. |
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Term
What are the three factors used to divide the ocean into distinct marine life zones? |
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Definition
Availability of sunlight, distance from shore and water depth. |
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Term
What is a hydrothermal vent? |
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Definition
Where seawater seeps into the ocean floor through cracks in the crust. |
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Term
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Definition
The use of light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into energy-rich sugar molecules. |
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Term
What does the prefix phyto mean? |
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Definition
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