Sci (Oceanography/Intertidal Zone/Tides) Flashcards 6th grade GCDS, 2024

Long Island Sound

 A tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Connecticut to the North and Long island sound in New York to the South

Sound

A long, broad inlet of the ocean that is parallel to the coast or separates the mainland from an island. 

Estuary

The part of a river or other area of water where it joins the sea, and where the effect of tides cause freshwater and saltwater to mix. 

Salinity

The amount of salt dissolved in a body of water, measured in parts per thousand. (ppt)

Brackish

A mixture of freshwater from the land and saltwater from the ocean.

Density

A measurement of the amount of matter (mass) in an object, compared to how much space (volume) it takes up. Saltwater is more dense than freshwater because the salt adds more matter to the water. 

Salt Wedge

 A phenomenon that occurs when freshwater rivers flow into bodies of saltwater where the less dense freshwater does not immediately mix with the more dense saltwater, creating a “wedge-like shape of freshwater on the surface.

Intertidal Zone

The coastal area located between the high and low tide marks, which is exposed to air at low tide and submerged by water at high tide.

Spray Zone

The part of the intertidal zone above the highest tide line. It is dampened by ocean spray and high waves, but is only submerged during very high tides or severe storms. 

High intertidal zone

 The intertidal areas are between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide lines. It is flooded by water during the peaks of daily high tides, but remains dry for a long time between high tides. 

Middle intertidal zone

 The intertidal zone between the lowest high tides and the highest low tide lines which the tide rises and falls twice a day. 

Low intertidal zone

 The intertidal areas are between the highest low tide and the lowest low tide lines. It is almost always underwater except during the lowest of spring tides. 

Tide

The rise and fall of ocean water levels caused by the gravitational pull between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.

Gravity

The force which pulls two objects towards each other.  The greater an object’s mass, the greater its gravitational pull.

Tidal Bulge

 A band of water around the Earth caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon or Sun.

High tide

When the tide is at its highest level.  You experience it when you are passing through a tidal bulge.

Low tide

 When the tide is at its lowest level.  You experience a low tide when you are passing between two tidal bulges.

Tidal range

The difference between the water level at high tide and the level at low tide.

Spring tide

A higher than normal high tide or lower than normal low tide that occurs during a new or full moon when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are lined up with each other.  The tidal range of spring tide is greater than average.

Neap Tide

 A moderate tide with the least difference between high tide and low tide that occurs during a quarter moon when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other.   The tidal range of neap tide is less than average.