Marine Science Vocab 3.2

Salts

A substance that consists of ions that have opposite electrical charges; a molecule that contains two or more different kinds of metal and non-metal atoms bonded together

Ions

An atom or a group of atoms rhat is electrically charges; a charged portion of a compound that has either a + or - charge

Dissociation

The breaking up of a salt molecule into ions when placed in water or other solvents; the act of a solid breaking apart into ions forming an electrolytic solution

Deep Sound Channel

The depth at which sound waves travel slowest, allowing low-frequency waves to travel vast distances

Solutes

Any material dissolved in a solvent

Salinity 

The total amount of salts dissolved in seawater. It is generally expressed in parts per thousand (‰)

Rule of Constant Proportions

A principle that states that the relative amounts of ions in seawater are always the same

Precipitation

Atmospheric water that falls to the ground, such as rain and snow

Profile

A graph showing changes in temperature, salinity, or other parameter with depth

Anthropogenic

Human-derived

Nutrients

A raw material other than carbon dioxide and water that is needed by an autotroph to produce organic matter.

Gas Exchange

The movement of oxygen and other gases between the atmosphere and the ocean, or between the water or atmosphere and living organisms, in which case it is often called respiratory exchange

Buffering

The shift in the proportion of carbon dioxide and carbonate species which keeps the ocean pH from changing too drastically

Chemical Equilibrium

The point in a chemical reaction where amounts of reactants and products are relatively stable and unlikely to change

Ocean Acidification

Decrease of seawater pH as a result of increased carbon dioxide

Calcified

Structures containing calcium, usually calcium carbonate