Studied by 1 person
El nino
Reversal of normal atmospheric circulation of southern pacific ocean.
It involves the warming of eastern pacific and occurs at intervals of 2 and 10 yrs
La nina
intermittent cold current = intensification of normal conditions = cold south america and cold upwellings of water in the south pacific.
Ocean acidification
results from increased CO2
more acidic oceans kill coral and therefore biodiversity
acidification reduces calcification in coral, resulting in slower growth and weaker skeletons
carbonic acid…
Carbon cycle
The ocean os the worlds largest carbon sink
photosynthesis - CO2 - organic material.
photosynthesis by phytoplankton creates organic compounds, feeding and sustaining the food chain and in the end are decomposed, releasing CO2.
transfer of CO2 from the ocean to the atmosphere takes a long time to completely cycle round.
Eustatic change
When sea level changes due to alteration in the volume of water in oceans (or a change in the amount of water the ocean holds)
It happens during an ice age.
The shape of ocean basins can change due to techtonic movement. This has a global effect global effect
Isostatic change
Occurs because of an increase or decrease in the height of the land.
When the height of the land increases, sea level falls and when height of the land decreases, sea level rises.
This is a local change
Advancing coastline
Emerged coastlines where the rate of deposition is rapid
Retreating coastline
Occurs in submerged coasts where rate of erosion exceeds rate of deposition
Both advancing and retreating coastlines result from sea level change and erosion
