chapter 15 earth science
Wave
A rhythmic movement that carries energy through space or matter (such as ocean water).
Western coasts of continents in the Trade Wind belts
Areas where upwelling exists
Forward
As an ocean wave passes, water moves up and down in a circular pattern and returns to it original position. Only the energy moves in this direction.
Density currents
Current caused by differences in temperature and salinity of ocean water; move slowly in the deep ocean.
Crest
Highest point of a wave
Wave Length
Horizontal distance from crest to crest
24 hours and 50minutes
How long does a daily cycle of 2 high tides and 2 low tides take?
photosynthesis
Light penetrates only the upper loom of seawater. ____________ of marine plant life occurs here!
Trough
Lowest point of a wave
3.5%
On average, what percent of seawater is dissolved salts?
96.5%
On average, what percent of seawater is water?
Ways Salts is Removed from seawater
Percipitation (fall to the bottom), The salty spray from breaking waves creates droplets which are carried away by the wind; Marine organisms remove calcium to build their shells, bones and teeth.
Dynamic Equilibrium
Salinity of seawater does not increase because as salts are being deposited, they are also being removed.
Highest Salinity
Subtropical areas where evaporation exceeds percipitation
Variations in Salinity
The amount of salts in the seawater varies from place to place.
Evaporation and Precipitation
The average percent of seawater that is water and the average percent of seawater that is dissolved salts varies from place to place in the ocean. It depends on the amount of these two things.
Wave Base
The depth to which the wave disturbs the water
Salinity
The measure of the amount of dissolved salts in sea water is called ________ ? It is expressed as grams of salt per kilogram of seawater or as parts per thousand (3.5% or 3.5ppt).
Upwelling Deep Water
The trade winds blow surface water offshore and the surface water is replaced by this. These waters are rich in nutrients.
Wave Height
The vertical distance between the crest and the trough. It depends on wind speed, wind duration, and fetch.
Sun and Moon
They have a gravitational effect on the tides.
Upwelling
This is the upward motion of water in the ocean.
Outgassing of water vapor from inside the earth: extraterrestial water from commets and meteorites
What are the two theories of formation?
crest, trough, wave length and wave height
What do ocean waves have?
Oceans
What has existed almost since the beginning of geologic time?
fetch
What is the expanse of water over which the wind blows called?
Tides
What is the periodic rise and fall of sea level (caused by the gravitational pull on the earth's water by the moon and to a lesser extent, the sun) called?
wind speed, the wind duration and fetch
What is wave height dependent upon?
71%
What percent of the earth"s surface is covered by water?
3%
What percent of the earth's water is freshwater?
97%
What percent of the earth's water is seawater found in oceans and seas?
Neap Tides
When the earth moon and the sun form a right angle. The difference between high and low tides is not as great.
Higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides
When the earth, the moon and the sun are alligned, the gravitational attraction of the sun and the moon create this.
Spring Tides
When the moon is either new or full, the earth and the sun are aligned. Higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides.
Lowest Salinity
Where freshwater rivers empty into the oceans
Frozen in the polar caps in glaciers
Where is most of the earth's fresh water found?
where freshwater rivers and streams flow into the ocean
Where is the percent of seawater less salty?
Where freezing is occuring
Where is the percent of seawater more salty?
Surface currents
Wind driven, occur in the upper few hundred meters of the ocean.