Marine Biology Chapter 3
What is the Gulf Stream?
a strong, fast moving, warm ocean current that originates in the gulf of mexico and moves to the atlantic ocean.
neap tide
a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is the least difference between high and low water. Happens 2 times a month
the process in which cold, nutrient rich deep water ascends to the surface
upwelling
During what quarters of the moon do spring tides occur, and how many times do they occur per month?
1st and 3rd quarters; twice per month
how many high and low tides per day are there in most areas?
2
Tsunami wavelengths can be as great as _________.
200km
What is the relationship between density and temperature? Between density and salinity?
As temperature increases, density decreases. As temperature decreases, density increases. As salinity increases density increases.
Who names the El Nino?
Fishermen of Peru
What does El Nino do to upwelling and fishing?
Greatly weakens upwelling, fish either die or migrate due to lack of food supply
Why is water the universal solvent?
It dissolves more substances than any other liquid, and because of it's polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds
Why is the Gulf Stream important?
It helps to keep Western Europe warm
deadliest tsunami
Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake. Approximately 2,300,000 victims
What is a gyre?
large system of circulating ocean currents
How are Eastern and Western boundary currents different?
Western boundary currents are narrower, faster, and deeper
What is an Elkman spiral?
When wind creates a surface current that spirals in a clockwise direction as depth increases, flowing the opposite direction of the wind at about 100m depth
How are ocean currents created?
Wind patterns and differences in water densities, coriolis effect
tsunami speed
average of 400-500 mph
What light wave penetrated the farthest in the ocean?
blue
The rule of constant proportions
chemical compounds are made up of elements that are present in a fixed ratio by mass
Gyres in the northern hemisphere move in a ___ direction
clockwise
gyres in the southern hemisphere move in a _ direction
counterclockwise
tsunami causes
extraterrestrial collision, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, seamount collapse
water has a high heat capacity
it absorbs a lot of heat before it begins to get hot
Because of plate tectonic movements (earthquakes), there should be more tsunamis found in the ____
pacific ocean
What ions are in salt water in the ocean?
sodium, chlorine, and magnesium
Water is considered to be the universal __
solvent
What are eddies?
swirling loops of water
a thermocline is an abrupt change in what?
temperature
What is the thermocline?
the rapid temperature decrease with depth a few hundred meters below the surface
wave period
the time is takes for two successive crests (one wavelength) to pass a specified point
what happens when a crest and trough collide?
they cancel eachother out, called destructive interference
what happens when two crests collide?
they form a larger crest
what happens when two troughs collide?
they form a larger trough
what happens to density as it gets warmer or cooler?
warmer water has a lower density, colder water has a higher density
What is the cause of an Elman spiral?
wind and currents
