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Oceans
Earth Science Oceans
30
Science
9th Grade
11/13/2010

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Cards

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