Oceanography Vocabulary Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is the Pelagic Zone?

  • A micro-organism
  • A type of tide
  • The open ocean (correct)
  • A shallow area of the ocean floor
  • Define Continental Shelf.

    A gently sloping shallow area of the ocean floor that extends outward from the edge of the continent.

    What is Sonar?

    A method or device used to determine ocean depth or distances.

    What does Density refer to?

    <p>The mass of matter, packed into a certain volume.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Spring Tide.

    <p>A tide with the greatest difference between high and low tide when the sun and moon are aligned in a line with the earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Neap Tide?

    <p>A tide with the least difference between low and high tide that occurs when the sun and moon pull at right angles to each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Oceanic Ridge.

    <p>Mountain ranges from each ocean connecting to form a gigantic mountain system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Guyot?

    <p>A seamount with a flat top.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Upwelling.

    <p>A current created near the shore due to convection causes nutrients from the bottom of the ocean to surface providing nourishment for many kinds of ocean life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Wave Height?

    <p>The vertical distance from the crest of a wave to the trough.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Benthic Zone.

    <p>The bottom of the ocean where little light penetrates; therefore, there is very little life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Wave Length?

    <p>The horizontal distance between two wave crests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Continental Rise.

    <p>A section of the ocean floor that rises to connect open ocean floor to the continental shelf.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Mid-Ocean Ridge?

    <p>The continuous range of mountains on the ocean floor that winds around the Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

    <p>Part of the gigantic underwater mountain system in the Atlantic Ocean.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Trench?

    <p>A deep canyon in the ocean floor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Salinity.

    <p>The total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Trough?

    <p>The lowest part of the wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Waves.

    <p>The up and down movement of the ocean's surface caused by wind.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Crest?

    <p>The high part of the wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Plankton.

    <p>Small or microscopic plant or animal organisms that float in bodies of water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Seamount?

    <p>Underwater mountain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Continental Slope.

    <p>A steep incline leading down from the edge of the continental shelf.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are Abyssal Plains?

    <p>Large flat region of the open ocean floor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Coriolis Effect?

    <p>The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Oceanic Zones and Features

    • Pelagic Zone: Refers to the open ocean, characterized by deeper waters away from the coast.
    • Continental Shelf: A gently sloping area of shallow ocean floor extending from a continent's edge, crucial for marine biodiversity.
    • Benthic Zone: The ocean bottom layer with very little light penetration, resulting in minimal life forms.
    • Abyssal Plains: Vast, flat regions of the ocean floor, found at great depths, offering unique habitats.

    Oceanic Processes and Phenomena

    • Upwelling: A coastal water current that brings nutrient-rich waters from the depths to the surface, vital for supporting marine ecosystems.
    • Coriolis Effect: Influences the direction of winds and ocean currents due to Earth's rotation, impacting climate and weather patterns.

    Oceanographic Measurements

    • Sonar: A technique utilized to measure ocean depth and distances underwater, essential for navigation and research.
    • Density: Represents the mass of matter per unit volume, important for understanding water stratification and ocean circulation.

    Tidal Dynamics

    • Spring Tide: Occurs when the sun and moon are aligned with the Earth, resulting in the highest tidal range.
    • Neap Tide: Characterized by the smallest difference between high and low tides, occurring when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other.

    Wave Characteristics

    • Wave Height: The vertical distance from a wave's crest to its trough, indicating wave strength.
    • Wave Length: The horizontal distance between consecutive wave crests, important for understanding wave energy.
    • Crest and Trough: The crest is the peak of the wave, while the trough is its lowest point, essential for studying wave patterns.

    Geological Structures

    • Oceanic Ridge: An underwater mountain system formed by plate tectonics, creating a continuous range across oceans.
    • Mid-Ocean Ridge: Specifically refers to the central, continuous mountain range in the ocean floors globally.
    • Mid-Atlantic Ridge: A significant segment of the mid-ocean ridge system located in the Atlantic Ocean.

    Marine Life and Ecosystems

    • Plankton: Microscopic organisms, either plant (phytoplankton) or animal (zooplankton), that drift in ocean waters, foundational to aquatic food webs.
    • Guyot: A flat-topped underwater mountain, often indicative of past volcanic activity.

    Ocean Floor Gradients

    • Continental Rise: The area transitioning from the continental shelf to the deep ocean floor, connecting shallow waters to the abyss.
    • Continental Slope: A steep descent from the continental shelf to the ocean floor, critical for understanding oceanic sediment deposits.

    Salinity

    • Salinity: Refers to the total concentration of dissolved salts in ocean water, influencing water density and ocean circulation patterns.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of essential oceanography terms with these vocabulary flashcards. Each card provides a key term and its definition, covering aspects of ocean zones, measurement methods, and physical properties. Perfect for students and enthusiasts alike!

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