6th grade - ocean currents, atmosphere and energy transfer

stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.

atmosphere gases and percentages

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.037% carbon dioxide

electromagnetic wave

A form of energy that can move through the vacuum of space.

surface current

A horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by WIND and that occurs at or near the ocean's surface. These have warmer, less dense water than deep currents.

temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance.

Salinity

A measure of the mass of dissolved solid or salt in a given mass of water.

atmosphere

A mixture of gases that surrounds the earth.

specific heat

Amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a substance 1 C°

thermal expansion

An increase in the size of a substance when the temperature is increased

Global Winds

Cause surface currents to flow in different directions.

Three factors that affect surface currents:

Continental Deflections, Coriolis Effect, and Global Winds.

name the two processes responsible for heating the atmosphere.

Convection and Conduction

kinetic energy

Energy of motion

radiation

Energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles.

heat

Energy that is transformed as a consequence of temperature differences

conduction

Form of heat transfer where heat energy is directly transferred between molecules through molecular collisions or direct contact.

Deep currents

Movements of ocean water far below the surface. These are caused by differences in water density. When water cools, its molecules move closer together and make it denser. The cooler, denser water sinks. These currents carry colder denser water from polar regions to other parts of the earth.

Gulf Stream

One of the strongest surface currents on earth.

greenhouse effect

Process by which atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, and water vapor in atmosphere "trap" infrared (solar) radiation, re-reflecting it back toward earth

convection

Process by which, in a fluid being heated, the warmer part of the mass will rise and the cooler portions will sink.

Name the different ways that energy is transferred to Earth from the sun

Radiation

ocean currents

Streamlike movement of water.

Density

The among of matter in a given space or volume.

convection current

The circular movement of water due to changes in density. Can be vertical, circular or cyclical.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving objects due to the earth's rotation. In the northern hemisphere, currents are deflected to the right. In the south, to the left.

troposhere

The lowest layer of the atmoshere, in which temerature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases. Densest layer. Contains almost 80% of the atmosphere's mass. Almost all of Earth's carbon dioxide, water vapor, clouds, air pollution, weather and life forms are located in this layer.

air pressure

The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

upwelling

The movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water fro the deep ocean up to the surface. Very important to ocean life. Caused when winds cause surface currents to move away from shore. The warm surface water is replaced by cold, nutrient rich water. Many fisheries are located in areas of this.

What Gases are abundant in the ocean?

The same ones that are abundant in the atmosphere. Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide.

How the sun's energy powers surface ocean currents.

The sun warms the air near the equator more than it heats the air at other latitudes. Pressure differences (due to the heat) cause winds to form. Then the winds cause the surface currents to form.

thermal energy

The total kinetic energy of a substance's particles

thermosphere

The uppermost layer of the atmosphere. Density of particles is very low. Temp can be 1,500 C but it feels cold because the particles are spread so far apart.

mesosphere

Third layer of the atmosphere. Temps decreases as altitude increases. Meteors burn up in this layer of the atmosphere, shooting stars, temperature decreases. Temps can be as low as -120C at the top.

What ocean currents transport

Water, dissolved solids, dissolved gases, and energy.

Continental deflection

When a surface current meets a continent, the current changes direction.

How does heat energy move in the global ocean?

When air in contact with the ocean is at a different temperature than the sea surface, heat transfer by conduction takes place. The ocean also absorbs and stores energy from the sun, and when precipitation falls, it releases heat energy into the atmosphere.

ozone layer

a layer in the stratosphere (at approximately 20 miles) that contains a concentration of ozone sufficient to block most ultraviolet radiation from the sun