Properties of Oceans and Climate Change Concepts

This collection of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to ocean properties, circulation, and climate change based on the lecture notes.

Sea Surface Salinity

The concentration of salt in ocean water, measured in parts per thousand (ppt) or practical salinity units (PSU).

Density

Defined as mass divided by volume; higher salinity increases water density while higher temperature decreases it.

Halocline

A layer in the ocean where salinity increases rapidly with depth.

Thermocline

A layer in the ocean where temperature decreases rapidly with depth.

Evaporation

The process where ocean water is transformed into vapor, leaving salt behind and increasing salinity.

Brine Rejection

The process occurring when sea ice forms, expelling salt and increasing surrounding water salinity.

Ekman Spiral

A theoretical model describing the effect of wind on ocean water movement, which results in a spiral pattern with depth.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving objects, such as water in the ocean, due to Earth's rotation.

Gyre

A large system of circulating ocean currents, driven by global wind patterns.

Upwelling

The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often enhancing biological productivity.

Downwelling

The process where surface water accumulates and sinks, often leading to less biological productivity.

Western Boundary Currents

Ocean currents that transport warm water from the equator towards the poles.

Eastern Boundary Currents

Ocean currents that carry cold water from the poles toward the tropics.

Thermohaline Circulation

Global ocean circulation driven by variations in water density, affected by temperature and salinity.

El Niño

A climate phenomenon characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, affecting global weather patterns.

La Niña

The counterpart to El Niño, where cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures occur in the Pacific.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment; involves different reservoirs.

Carbon Reservoir

A natural pool of carbon-containing material at a particular time, expressed in mass.

Residence Time

The average time a substance stays in a particular carbon reservoir.

Biological Carbon Pump

The process by which marine organisms transfer carbon between the ocean and atmosphere involving photosynthesis and respiration.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in ocean pH caused by the absorption of excess CO2 from the atmosphere.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST)

The temperature of the ocean's surface, which can influence weather and climate.

IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which assesses scientific information regarding climate change and provides policy recommendations.

RCPs

Representative Concentration Pathways used to model future greenhouse gas concentrations and their climate impact.

SSPs

Shared Socioeconomic Pathways that illustrate how different societal choices can impact climate outcomes.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A large area in the Northern Pacific Ocean where plastic debris accumulates due to ocean currents.

Storm Surge

An abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, often caused by strong winds and low pressure.

Algal Blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water bodies, often leading to oxygen depletion and harm to aquatic life.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed from buried organic material over millions of years.

Carbonic Acid

A weak acid formed when CO2 dissolves in water, contributing to ocean acidification.

Oxygen Depletion

A reduction of oxygen levels in water bodies, often detrimental to marine organisms.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in water volume due to rising temperatures, contributing to sea level rise.

Trade Winds

Prevailing winds that blow from east to west in the tropics, affecting ocean circulation patterns.

Hydrosphere

All the waters on the Earth's surface, including lakes, rivers, oceans, and even moisture in the atmosphere.

Upwelling Zones

Specific areas in oceans where cold, nutrient-rich waters rise to the surface, enhancing biological productivity.

Climate Feedback Mechanisms

Processes that can amplify or diminish climate changes, such as changes in albedo or carbon cycling.