Chapter 5 Marine Science
Aerosols
Microscopic particles, into the upper atmosphere, where they increase the reflection of sunlight and slightly cool the Earth.
Convection cell
Two layers of horizontal winds moving in opposite directions.
Gyres
Under the influence of the Coriolis effect, the wind-driven surface currents combine into huge, circular systems. Span ocean basins, flowing clockwise in northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in southern hemisphere.
Ekman layer
Upper part of the water column affected by wind. Moves at 90 degrees from wind direction called Ekman transport.
Polar easterlies
Variable winds that blow at higher latitudes.
Stable
Water column where warmer, less dense surface water floats on top of denser water below. How stable the water column is depends on the density difference between the layers.
Downwelling
When the surface water gets cold enough during the winter, and it becomes denser and than deeper water and sinks.
Water mass
A body of water that can be identified by its temperature and salinity.
Great ocean conveyor
A global circulation pattern in which water cycles throughout the ocean basins. Also critical in regulating Earth's climate, and fluctuations in the conveyor have produced rapid climate changes. Also brings dissolved oxygen to the deep sea.
Permafrost
A layer of frozen polar soil.
Thermoclines
A zone in the water column that shows a sudden change in temperature with depth. The main thermocline is the zone where the temperature change marks the transition between the warm surface water and cold deep water.
Warming signal
Consistent variation in temperature over a long period of time.
Troposphere
Contains 90% of the atmosphere's gas by mass. Decreases in temperature with increase in altitude. Layer of atmosphere closest to surface of Earth ( up to 12 km high)
Stratosphere
Contains ozone, which is a form of oxygen that is more reactive thsn the oxygen found near the surface. Layer of atmosphere between 20-50 km above Earth's surface.
Oscillations
Cyclical changes in ocean circulation that affect climate.
Isotopes
Different forms of an element; number of protons the same, number of neutrons is different.
Storm surges
Form from a combination of (1) the difference in atmospheric pressure between the perimeter of a storm and the eye and (2) from spiraling winds.
Equatorial upwelling
Happens especially in Pacific. Direction changes from left to right at Equator. The North equatorial currents transport surface water to the right ( North), whereas the south equatorial currents transport water to the left ( south)
Thermosphere
Highest section of the atmosphere, and outer layer, starts above the mesosphere, and extends to 500 km above Earth's surface. As in the stratosphere, the temperature increases with altitude, but unlike the stratosphere, increase is due to small amount of regular oxygen. Absorbs energy from sun.
Westerlies
Instead of forming trade winds, some winds move from the west toward higher latitudes. Since they come from the west, they are known as westerlies. Middle latitudes.move in opposite direction of trade winds.
El Niño-Southern Oscillation
Large scale changes in atmospheric and ocean current patterns in which, among other things, warm surface water in the Pacific Ocean moves further to the east than normal. Refers to warming of surface water in Eastern Pacific.
Upwelling
Movement of large volumes of bottom water to surface, caused by Ekman tranpsort. Usually most intense. Coastal winds aren't the only source of upwelling. Coastal upwelling tends to be seasonal, occurring mainly during time of year when winds are strong and blow in the right direction along the coast.
Wind
Movement of molecules in the air. Winds are driven by by heat energy from the sun.
Thermohaline circulation
Ocean circulation driven by differences in water density, due to variations in water temperature and salinity, rather than by the wind or tides.
Equatorial currents
Produce winds that move parallel to the equator.
Cyclonic storms
Rotating storms generated over warm waters of the tropics and that occur over much shorter time spans ENSO.
Trade winds
Sinking air pushed back toward the equator. Steady winds that blow from East to West toward the Equator, replacing the hot air that rises at the Equator.
Monsoons
Strong winds that blow northward in summer and southward in winter. The Sumer monsoon causes very intense coastal upwelling.
Stratopause
Temperature levels off again, approximately 50 km up. Transition between stratosphere and the mesosphere, 50 km above Earth's surface.
Coriolis effect
The Earth is round as it rotates, anything that moves over its surface tends to turn a littlecrather than moves in a straight line. Produces equatorial upwelling, especially in the Pacific. Occurs in ring around Antartica.
Gulf stream
The current that carries water form the tropics up the east coast of the United States before turning East and bringing warm water to Europe.
Tropopause
The division between the troposphere and and the stratosphere ( 12-20 km above Earth's surface)
Albedo
The reflectivity of Earth's surface. The higher the albedo, the more solar energy is reflected back to space.
Overturn
The sinking of surface water that has become more dense than water below. Water columm is unstable.surface water sinks and mixes with deeper water.
Ekman spiral
The spiral change in the movement of water in the water column when the water is pushed by wind. Net water movement 90 degrees from wind direction. Effects of wind decreases with depth.
Thermal expansion
When a substance expands with increased temperature.