Oceanography unit 3 test vocab

Abyssal plain

Flat, deep ocean floor found between the continental rise and the mid-ocean ridge, typically at depths of 3,000 to 6,000 meters

Anadromous

Fish species that migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn, like salmon

Antarctic circumpolar current

A powerful ocean current that flows from west to east around Antarctica, the only current to connect all ocean basins

Aquarius Reef Lab

An underwater research station located off the coast of Florida, used for studying marine ecosystems and coral reefs

Asthenosphere

The semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle located below the lithosphere, which allows tectonic plates to move

Basalt

A dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms much of the oceanic crust

Bathymetry

The study and measurement of ocean depths and the mapping of the seafloor's topography

Bathyscaphe

A deep-sea submersible used for exploring the ocean’s depths, capable of withstanding extreme pressures

Bathysphere

An early, spherical deep-sea submersible lowered by a cable for ocean exploration

Benthic

Refers to organisms and ecosystems living on or near the ocean floor

Bioluminescence

The production and emission of light by living organisms, often seen in deep-sea creatures like anglerfish

Black smokers

Hydrothermal vents on the seafloor that release superheated water rich in minerals, creating dark-colored plumes

Brackish

Water that is a mix of fresh and saltwater, typically found in estuaries

Calcium carbonate

A chemical compound (CaCO₃) found in marine organisms' shells, corals, and limestone

Carson, Rachel

A marine biologist and conservationist known for her book "Silent Spring," which raised awareness of environmental issues and pesticides

Catadromous

Fish species that migrate from freshwater to the sea to spawn, such as eels

Challenger Deep

The deepest known point in the Earth's oceans, located in the Mariana Trench

Chemosynthesis

The process by which some organisms convert inorganic compounds (eg hydrogen sulfide) into energy, used by bacteria in hydrothermal vent communities

Coastal upwelling

The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, supporting high levels of marine productivity

Conductivity

The measure of a material's ability to conduct electricity, used in oceanography to assess salinity levels

Continental break

The steep transition between the continental shelf and the continental slope

Continental crust

The thick part of the Earth's crust that forms landmasses, less dense and older than oceanic crust

Continental margins

The edges of continental landmasses under the ocean, including the continental shelf, slope, and rise

Continental shelf

The submerged, gently sloping area of the seabed extending from a continent

Continental slope

The steep slope between the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor

Convection cells

Circular patterns of rising and falling material, such as magma in the Earth's mantle or air in the atmosphere

Convergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, often forming mountains or causing subduction

Cook, James

A British explorer and navigator known for his voyages to the Pacific Ocean, mapping areas like New Zealand and Hawaii

Coriolis effect

The deflection of moving objects (such as winds and currents) caused by the Earth's rotation, influencing global wind patterns

Cousteau, Jacques-Yves

A French oceanographer and filmmaker known for pioneering marine exploration and developing the Aqua-Lung for underwater diving

Divergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, creating a new crust as magma rises

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract electrons, important in understanding chemical bonding

Equatorial Upwelling

The process where water diverges at the equator, allowing deeper, nutrient-rich water to rise and support marine life

Fractional distillation

A process used to separate liquids with different boiling points, often used to separate components of crude oil

Fram

A wooden ship used by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen in his Arctic exploration in the late 19th century

Giant tube worm

(Phylum: Annelid) Large worms found near hydrothermal vents, known for their symbiotic relationship with chemo-synthetic bacteria.

Glomar Challenger

A research ship that contributed to the confirmation of plate tectonics through ocean drilling and core samples

Guam

An island in the western Pacific Ocean, part of the Mariana Islands, known for its strategic military importance and cultural heritage

Gulf stream

A powerful, warm Atlantic Ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the eastern US coast and towards Europe

Gyres

Large systems of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect, such as the North Atlantic Gyre

HMS Challenger

The British ship that conducted the first global oceanographic research expedition from 1872 to 1876

Hotspots

Volcanic regions thought to be fed by underlying mantle plumes, such as the Hawaiian Islands

Horse latitudes

Calm areas located at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator, characterized by weak winds

Hydrothermal vents

Openings on the seafloor that release heated water and minerals from beneath the Earth's crust, supporting unique ecosystems

Hypersaline sea

A body of water with a salinity level higher than seawater, such as the Dead Sea

Island arc

A chain of volcanic islands formed at a convergent boundary where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another oceanic plate

Jason

A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) used in deep-sea exploration to conduct scientific research and collect samples

Latitude

The distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees

Lava

Molten rock that erupts from a volcano and solidifies as it cools on the Earth's surface

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, comprising the crust and upper mantle, involved in plate tectonics

Longitude

The distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

Magma

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, which can form volcanic eruptions when it reaches the surface

Marianas trench

The deepest oceanic trench on Earth, located in the western Pacific Ocean

Marianas islands

A group of volcanic islands in the western Pacific Ocean, including Guam

Maurey, Matthew

A US Navy officer and oceanographer known as the "Father of Oceanography" for his pioneering work in charting winds and ocean currents

MidAtlantic Ridge

An underwater mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean formed by divergent tectonic plates

North Atlantic drift

The northeastern extension of the Gulf Stream, warming the climate of Western Europe

Oceanic crust

The thin, dense part of the Earth's crust that underlies the ocean basins

Plastic

A synthetic material made from polymers, often found as pollution in marine environments due to its persistence

Plate boundaries

The edges where two tectonic plates meet, including convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries

Plate Tectonics

The scientific theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that move and interact, shaping the planet's surface

Piccard, Jacques

A Swiss oceanographer known for his deep-sea exploration, including the 1960 descent to the Challenger Deep in the bathyscaphe *Trieste*

Polar Covalent Bond

A type of chemical bond where electrons are shared unequally between atoms, creating a dipole moment

Precautionary principle

A principle in environmental science advocating for preventive action in the face of uncertainty to avoid harm to the environment or human health

Prime meridian

The 0° longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England, serving as the starting point for measuring longitude

Ring of Fire

A seismically active region encircling the Pacific Ocean, characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

Salinity

The concentration of dissolved salts in water, typically measured in parts per thousand (ppt) in oceanography

Salt exclusion

The process by which salt is excluded from ice as it forms, increasing the salinity of the surrounding seawater

Saltwater intrusion

The movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, often caused by over-extraction of groundwater

Sargasso sea

A region of the North Atlantic Ocean characterized by calm waters and floating Sargassum seaweed

Sargassum weed

A type of brown seaweed that floats in large mats on the surface of the ocean, particularly in the Sargasso Sea

Scripps Institute

A leading oceanographic research institution based in La Jolla, California, part of the University of California San Diego

Seamount

An underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity, often rising from the ocean floor but not reaching the surface

Sea Floor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and moves away as tectonic plates diverge

Side scan sonar

A technology used to create detailed images of the seafloor by sending sound waves from a towed or mounted sonar device

Soil salinization

The accumulation of salts in soil, often as a result of improper irrigation practices, leading to reduced soil fertility

Spreading Centers

Areas at mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart, allowing magma to rise and form new crust

Standard Curve

A graph used in analytical chemistry to determine the concentration of a substance in a sample by comparing it to known values

Subduction

The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another at a convergent boundary, sinking into the mantle

Submarine canyon

A deep, V-shaped valley cut into the continental shelf and slope, often formed by turbidity currents

Thermohaline Circulation

The global circulation of ocean water driven by differences in temperature and salinity, crucial for distributing heat and nutrients

Think globally, act locally

A concept encouraging individuals to consider the global environmental impact of their actions while focusing on local solutions

Trade winds

Steady winds that blow from east to west near the equator, helping drive ocean currents and climate patterns

Tragedy of the Commons

A concept in environmental science where shared resources are depleted by individuals acting in their own self-interest

Transform boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other, often causing earthquakes

Trenches

Deep, narrow depressions in the ocean floor, formed at convergent boundaries where one plate is subducted beneath another

Trieste

A deep-diving bathyscaphe that reached the Challenger Deep in 1960 with Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh aboard

Tropic of Cancer

The latitude line located at 23.5° north of the equator, marking the northernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead

Tropic of Capricorn

The latitude line located at 23.5° south of the equator, marking the southernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead

5° south of the equator, marking the southernmost point where the sun can be directly overhead

Tsunami

A large sea wave caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, capable of causing widespread damage when it reaches land

Turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid, caused by the presence of suspended particles

Currents

Continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by forces such as wind, the Coriolis effect, and differences in water density

Walsh, Don

An American oceanographer and explorer who, along with Jacques Piccard, descended to the bottom of the Challenger Deep in the *Trieste* in 1960

Woods Hole Institute

A leading oceanographic research institution located in Massachusetts, known for its contributions to marine science