10.2 Oceanography 3 - Bennett Earth Science

Upwelling

An ocean current that carries nutrient rich cold water from deep in the ocean up to the surface.

Tsunami

A giant wave caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor.

Surface Currents

Stream-like movement of water near the top of the ocean; driven by the wind.

Deep Currents

Currents set in motion by density differences. The density of seawater is affected by temperature and salinity.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent curving of the path of air or water currents from an otherwise straight path due to the earth's rotation

Tides

Daily change in sea level due to gravity of the sun and moon

Cold Currents

Move from the poles toward the equator.

Warm Currents

Move from the equator toward the poles.

Gulf Stream

Warm surface current that keeps England ice-free in the winter

Gyres

Huge circular-moving current systems that dominate the surfaces of the oceans bordered by one or more continents.

El Niño

Unusually warm surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which leads to changes in weather patterns.

Coral

Marine animal that lives in warm shallow waters in colonies called reefs.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic plant or plant-like organisms that provide food for other organisms.

Zooplankton

Small drifting animals or animal-like organisms that feed on phytoplanton.

Benthic

Describes organisms living in or on the sediment at the bottom of an ocean or lake.

Plankton

Organisms that float and drift with the current.

Spring Tide

Tides that occur when the moon and sun line up with the Earth, reinforcing each other's gravity.

Neap Tide

Tides that occur when the sun and moon are at right angles with the Earth, producing lower high tides.

Density currents

Vertical currents of cold, salty ocean water that result from density differences.

Graded bedding

Sedimentary layers in which the particle sizes become progressively heavier and coarser toward the bottom layers; formed by turbidity currents.

Turbidity current

A submarine avalanche of sediment and water that speeds down a submarine canyon.

Tidal range

The difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and low tide.