Oceans

?
  • Created by: exam yes
  • Created on: 30-04-19 16:45
Describe the basic facts of Oceans... (5 statistics)
70% of Earth is covered by water with around 90% of that being saline oceans. There is 3.5% of dissolved salt in the oceans causing 35ppt salinity. And 50% of O2 in the atmosphere is provided by phytoplankton in Oceans
1 of 11
How are Oceans important? (4 things?)
1)Distribute heat and absorb solar radiation so help to maintain climate. 2)mainly at coastal areas, oceans help to recycle sediment. 3)Ecosystem services- used a resource e.g. food, energy and research etc... 4) Supports a huge abundance of life
2 of 11
What are the two provinces in the ocean?
Pelagic- water column and Benthonic - on the sea floor
3 of 11
What is the Neritic zone?
Shallow waters so the continental shelf
4 of 11
Describe the 3 different zones as depth increases in the ocean (down water profile)
First is the photic zone where light penetrates and is sufficient for photosynthesis. The Dysphotic zone where light is too weak for photosynthesis but blue and green wavelengths of light still penetrate. Aphotic zone from >4-5km =complete darkness
5 of 11
Briefly describe the direction of the lines of water column profiles associated with the three factors...
Salinity change and Density change both start low and increase with depth whereas Temperature decreases with depth (starts at 15 degrees with steep gradient change to 5 degrees)
6 of 11
What do the three 'clines' represent and roughly how deep are they as shown on a water column profile?
Represent a layer of steep gradient change, either increase or decrease depending on the factor. The layers are roughly from 100m - 1000m/1km
7 of 11
What are sub-surface currents associated with Ocean Circulation?
Currents that are caused by the flow of water being driven by density and generated by differences in temperature and salinity.(When two water masses meet with different densities a movement/flow is caused as the more dense water is displaced under..
8 of 11
Where and how are equatorial currents driven?
Trade winds cause equatorial currents to be driven to the west
9 of 11
Where are cold water currents driven and how are all currents typically moved?
Wind impacts the surface water of oceans with frictional force, driving currents in certain directions, such as cold water currents being driven east
10 of 11
What is a Gyre? (give two examples)
Large circulating currents, e.g. Gulf of Mexico and Kuroshio in the northern hemisphere
11 of 11

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How are Oceans important? (4 things?)

Back

1)Distribute heat and absorb solar radiation so help to maintain climate. 2)mainly at coastal areas, oceans help to recycle sediment. 3)Ecosystem services- used a resource e.g. food, energy and research etc... 4) Supports a huge abundance of life

Card 3

Front

What are the two provinces in the ocean?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the Neritic zone?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Describe the 3 different zones as depth increases in the ocean (down water profile)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all HYDROSPHERE resources »