Oceanography Mid Term 2 Terms

Cohesion

water molecules stick to other water molecules

adhesion

water molecules stick to other molecules

solid form

water becomes less dense in

temperature

density of water is influenced by

increased CO2 levels

the seasons of fall/winter have

amount of land in northern hemisphere

fall/winter have increased CO2 because of the

climate

a dynamic, global system, constantly evolving

rises

warm air

warm air

holds more water vapor than cold air

descending air

is very dry

near the poles

Coriolis force is stronger

density and wind

the ocean is set in motion by

in a clockwise manner (right)

In the Northern hemisphere, moving objects veer off course

in a counter-clockwise matter (left)

in the southern hemisphere, moving objects veer off course

spin counter clockwise

cold core eddies

spin clockwise

warm core eddies

Halocline

Salinity increases with depth

Cold Salty Water

Is more dense than warm fresh water

Spicy Water

warm and salty water

Minty Water

cold and fresh water

Caballing

When two water masses of equal density mix, creating a new water mass that is even denser than the density of two original masses.

SONAR

Sound Navigation And Ranging

Photic zone

sunlit ocean surface. depth is variable

Aphotic zone

literally, “without light”, the dark region/ most of the ocean

Ekman Transport

surface water moves 90° to the right (N hemisphere) or left (S hemisphere) of wind direction

Upwelling

water comes up to fill a hole

Cyclones

low pressure air converging and ascending

Storms

form within or between air masses

Extratropical cyclones

forms between 2 air masses

Tropical cyclones

from single air mass

Cyclones spin counter clockwise in

Northern hemisphere

Cyclones spin clockwise in

Southern Hemisphere

Refraction

bending of waves

Waves refract (bend) away

from the environment in which waves travel faster.

Waves

bend from fast to slow

Surface zone/mixed layer

in contact with the atmosphere, ~150m

The deep

beneath the pycnocline, most of the ocean water

Scattering

when light is bounced between air or water molecules before being absorbed.

Absorption

when light is absorbed, molecules vibrate and the light’s electromagnetic energy is converted to heat

Sound increases

as temperature and pressure increase

Sound decreases

as it travels through seawater because of spreading, scattering, and absorption

Sound

a form of energy transmitted by rapid pressure changes in an elastic medium

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

the Atlantic component of the thermohaline circulation

As temperature increases

density decreases

As salinity increases

density increases