Seawater and its Properties

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts from the oceanography lecture on seawater and its properties.

Water Molecule

Composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O).

Cohesion

The ability of water molecules to stick to each other, creating surface tension.

Adhesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to other substances.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with a positive and negative side, such as water.

Latent Heat of Fusion

The amount of energy needed to change water from a solid to a liquid without changing its temperature (80 calories).

Latent Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy required to convert water from a liquid to a gas without changing its temperature (540 calories).

Specific Heat

The ability of a substance to absorb or release heat and undergo temperature changes.

Salinity

Total concentration of dissolved minerals and inorganic ions in seawater.

Thermocline

The middle ocean zone where temperature changes rapidly with depth.

Pycnocline

A zone in the ocean where density increases with depth.

Euphotic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs.

Chemical Equilibrium

The condition in which the proportion and amounts of dissolved solids in the ocean remain constant.

Sound in Water

Sound waves bend and bounce in seawater, affected by changes in density.

Light in Water

Light is weakened through scattering and absorption as it travels in the ocean.

Buffering

The ability of seawater to maintain stable pH levels by absorbing excess acids or bases.

Global Circulation

The movement of ocean water that causes mixing and heat transportation from the tropics to the poles.

Density Zones

The ocean is divided into the surface zone, pycnocline, and deep zone based on water density.

Photosynthesis

The process by which marine plants use sunlight to produce oxygen and organic materials from carbon dioxide.