Intro to Oceanography and Ocean Basins

Flashcards covering key oceanography concepts, major ocean basins, ocean chemistry, human ties to the ocean, and geographic coordinate systems.

Oceanography

The study of the ocean, its surroundings, life within it, and the solid earth beneath it; also known as marine science.

Marine

Of or relating to the sea or ocean, referring specifically to a saltwater environment.

Biological Oceanography

The sub-discipline of oceanography that studies organisms living in the ocean and their relationship to the environment, also known as marine biology.

Chemical Oceanography

The sub-discipline of oceanography focused on the composition of seawater and the processes controlling and altering its composition, including marine pollution.

Geological Oceanography

The sub-discipline of oceanography that studies the components, shape, and formation processes of the seafloor.

Physical Oceanography

The sub-discipline of oceanography studying ocean movements—such as waves, tides, and currents—along with shoreline processes and ocean-atmosphere interactions.

Four Branches of Oceanography

The four main fields of oceanography: Chemical Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, and Biological Oceanography.

Ocean Basin

A bowl-shaped depression on Earth's surface formed by geological forces, featuring complex topography and filled with seawater.

Challenger Deep

The deepest known point in the ocean, measuring $36,070blank\text{ft}$ ($11,000\,\text{m}$) deep within the Mariana Trench.

Pacific Ocean

The largest ocean on Earth, containing $52\%$ of all ocean water, covering $1/3$ of Earth's surface, and containing the Mariana Trench and most world islands.

Mariana Trench

A deep ocean trench located in the Pacific Ocean that houses the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the world's oceans.

Atlantic Ocean

The second-largest ocean, containing $29\%$ of all ocean water, covering $1/5$ of Earth's surface, and recognized as the youngest ocean ($\sim 150\,\text{million}$ years old).

Indian Ocean

The third-largest ocean, which is the warmest due to its equatorial location and land-locked northern side, possessing the lowest oxygen content of any ocean.

Southern Ocean

The second-smallest ocean (also called the Antarctic Ocean), consisting of all ocean water from the coast of Antarctica north to $60^\circ\text{S}$, established in 2000.

Arctic Ocean

The smallest, shallowest, and coldest ocean, covering less than $3\%$ of Earth's surface and storing approximately $10\%$ of the world's freshwater supply in ice.

Seas

Saltwater bodies that are smaller and shallower than oceans, partially enclosed by land, and usually having lower salinity due to freshwater input from land-based sources.

Latitude

The angular measurement in degrees north or south of the Equator, represented by horizontal lines running east to west.

Parallels

Another term for lines of latitude that run horizontally east to west around the globe.

Longitude

The angular distance measured in degrees east or west from the Prime Meridian, represented by vertical lines running north to south.

Meridians

Another term for lines of longitude that run vertically from the North Pole to the South Pole.

Equator

The line of $0^\circ$ latitude that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Prime Meridian

The reference line of $0^\circ$ longitude from which angular distance east and west is measured.

Tropic of Cancer

The parallel of latitude located at $23.5^\circ\text{N}$ of the Equator.

Tropic of Capricorn

The parallel of latitude located at $23.5^\circ\text{S}$ of the Equator.

Arctic Circle

The parallel of latitude located at $66.5^\circ\text{N}$ of the Equator.

Antarctic Circle

The parallel of latitude located at $66.5^\circ\text{S}$ of the Equator.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic marine organisms that contain chlorophyll to capture sunlight, absorb dissolved carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) and mineral salts, and release oxygen ($\text{O}_2$).

Ocean Acidification Chemical Reaction

The chemical reaction $\text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CO}_3^{2-} \rightarrow 2\text{HCO}_3^-$ where atmospheric carbon dioxide absorption converts carbonate ions into bicarbonate ions.

Carbonate Ion

The chemical species $\text{CO}_3^{2-}$ in seawater whose consumption during ocean acidification impedes calcification in marine life.

Bicarbonate Ion

The chemical species $\text{HCO}_3^-$ produced when absorbed carbon dioxide reacts with water and carbonate ions in ocean water.

Calcification

The process by which corals, shellfish, and plankton form calcium structure; it is impeded when carbonate ion concentrations drop due to ocean acidification.

Global Ocean Water Volume Percentage

The proportion of all water on Earth contained within the oceans, equal to $97\%$.

Global Ocean Surface Coverage

The percentage of Earth's surface covered by the ocean, equal to $71\%$.

Average Ocean Depth

The mean depth of Earth's oceans, approximately $3,800\,\text{m}$ ($12,500\,\text{ft}$).

Ocean Carbon Storage Ratio

The ratio representing how much carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) the ocean holds relative to the atmosphere, storing $50\times$ more.

Global Oxygen Supply

The portion of Earth's oxygen provided by the ocean, which is over $50\%$.

Global Maritime Trade Percentage

The percentage of global trade moved across the ocean by ship, equal to $90\%$.

Coastal Population Proximity

The statistic stating that approximately $40\%$ of the global population lives within $100\,\text{km}$ ($\sim 62\,\text{mi}$) of the coast.

Human Animal Protein Consumption

The percentage of animal protein consumed globally by humans that comes from fish, equal to $25\%$.

Plastic Pollution Estimate (2050)

The prediction that by the year 2050, there could be more plastic by weight in the ocean than fish.

Annual Ocean Plastic Input

The quantity of plastic that enters the ocean every year, estimated at $11\,\text{million}$ tonnes.

Garbage to Fish Catch Ratio

The ratio stating that the weight of garbage dumped into the ocean is $3\times$ the weight of fish caught.

Expected Sea Level Rise

The predicted amount of sea level rise within this century, expected to be almost $1\,\text{meter}$.

High Seas Fishing Trend

The historical expansion of high seas fishing from $1\%$ in 1950 to $33\%$ in 1980, reaching $63\%$ in 2006.

Exploited Fishery Species (2006)

The percentage of marine species classified as exploited, overexploited, or collapsed by 2006, reaching $87\%$.

Minutes of Arc

A unit of angular measurement used in geographic coordinates where $1\,\text{degree}$ equals $60\,\text{minutes}$ ($60'$).

Seconds of Arc

A unit of angular measurement used in geographic coordinates where $1\,\text{minute}$ equals $60\,\text{seconds}$ ($60''$).

Mid-Ocean Ridge System (Atlantic)

The underwater geographic feature contained within the Atlantic Ocean that forms the world's longest mountain range.

Arctic Fresh Water Reserve

The portion of the world's fresh water supply stored in the ice of the Arctic Ocean, equal to $\sim 10\%$.

One World Ocean Concept

The concept that all Earth's oceans are interconnected into a single world ocean divided into 5 main sections or regions.