Geography - Oceans Flashcards

Ocean

A very large expanse of sea. The main areas into which the sea is divided geographically

Sea

A smaller area of ocean, typically located where land and water meet

Tide

The alternate rising and falling of the sea

Tidal range

The difference between the low tide and high tide heights

Spring tide

High high tides and low low tides, new moon days and full moon days. Sun, moon and earth are in line

Neap tide

Tides rise neither high nor fall very low, occurs during moon days, sun and moon are at right angles

Ecosystem

The living(biotic) and non-living(abiotic) components of an environment and the interrelations between them

Biome

Ecosystems on a global scale. Major regional or global living community characterised by the dominant organisms and climate

Producer

An organism that obtains energy from the sun, they then covert it into sugars through photosynthesis

Consumers

Organisms that gain energy from eating other organisms they can be 1st 2nd 3rd 4th or 5th consumers depending on what stage of the food they are

Decomposer

Organisms like bacteria or fungi that break down dead animal and plant matter, returning the nutrients to the environments

Hydrological cycle

The continuous movement of water between the land, sea and air

Carbom cycle

The continuous cycle of carbon between the atmosphere, through various animals,plants,rock and fuels back into the atmosphere

Greenhouse effect

The trapping of the sun’s warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere. This is being enhanced by humans releasing increased levels greenhouse gases

Global warming

A gradual increase in overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere gradually attributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect

Thermal expansion

Heat is absorbed and water expands

Thermohaline circulation

The movement of seawater in a pattern of flow depending on variations in temperature which give rise to changes in salt hence in density

Endemic

Species that can only be found in one area of the world

Ocean gyre

A system of circular ocean currents formed by the earths wind patterns

Microplastics

Extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment

Dispute

A disagreement or argument

UNCLOS

The united nations convention on the Law of the sea treaty

EEZ

exclusive economic zone, a country claims jurisdiction over marine resources in the section 200 nautical miles off its shore

Sovereignity

The authority of a state to govern(control)

What are the names of the oceans in the world

• Pacific

• Atlantic

• Indian

• Southern

• Arctic

Why are there two tides in a day

The moons gravitational force pulls the ocean closest to it causing a high tide. The gravitational force also acts on the earth, moving it in the direction of the moon aswell causing another high tide on the other side.

Why is the tide approximately 50 minutes later every day?

The tide is approximately 50 minutes later each day because as the Earth rotates on its axis, the moon also moves in its orbit. Since the moon takes about 27.5 days to orbit the Earth, the Earth has to rotate a little further each day for the same point to face the moon, which results in delayed tidal times.

Why are oceans so important

• products

• supports biodiversity

• creates a living for communities

• carbon dioxide sink

• regulates climate

• renewable energy

• habitat

• flood defence

• food chain

• water and carbon cycles

• leisure

• biggest biome

• absorbs waste

Give some examples of biotic components of an ecosystem

• Plants

• Animals

• Fungi

• Algae

Give some examples of abiotic components of an ecosystem

• Sunlight

• Water

• Rock

• Soil

• Oxygen

Why are plankton so important

• They are responsible for 95% of organic matter recycle

• Phytoplankton are food for zooplankton

• Coastal families rely on fish

• They clear up waste

• Responsible for 20% of photosynthesis

• 50% of oxygen is produced by plankton

How much of the total water on the planet does the ocean hold

97%

How much of global precipitation occurs over the ocean

78%

How much of global evaporation happens in the ocean

84%

What is precipitation

All water is released from clouds such as rain,snow, hail, sleet

What is surface run off

Water flowing across the surface of the land, whether in a channel or over the land

Interception

When tress or man-made objects get in the way of rain reaching the ground surface

Infiltration

When water soaks into the soil

Evaporation

When water is heated by the sun and rises into the sky as water vapour

Transpiration

When moisture from plants and leaves is lost to the atmosphere

Condensation

When water vapour is cooled and turns into water droplets to form clouds

Through flow

When water travels through the soil towards a river or the sea

Groundwater flow

The movement of water through the rocks

What is the hydrological cycle

• energy from the sun heats the surface of the earth

• the warm, moist air rises because it is less dense

• condensation occurs when water vapour is turned back into water droplets as it cools down, forming clouds

• precipitation occurs as water droplets get bigger and heavier they begin to fall as rain,snow and sleet

• some precipitation may be intercepted by plants

• precipitation which reaches the ground may be returned to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration

• most of the water is returned to the sea through a combination of surface runoff, through flow and ground flow

What is the carbon cycle

• carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide from respiration and combustion

• carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis

• animals feed on the plant passing the carbon compounds along the food chain

• most of the carbon they consume is exhaled as carbon dioxide during respiration, until they eventually die

• The dead organisms are eaten by decomposers and the carbon in their bodies is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide

• alternatively, decomposition is blocked, so the plant and animal material may then be available as fossil fuel in the future for combustion

What is the range of the earths temperature

from +57 degrees to -88 degrees celcius

what are examples of GHGs(greenhouse gases)

• carbon dioxide

• methane

• nitrous oxide

• water vapour

How much of the atmosphere do GHGs take up

1%

What is thermal expansion

Burning fossil fuels and other natural and human activities release gas into the atmosphere, adding to the greenhouse effect. Earths surface temperature increases, the ocean absorbs 80% of the heat which causes thermal expansion because when water heats up it expands. Approx. half of sea level sises because of warmer oceans which occupy more space

What is ice melt

Warmer temperatures cause melting ice on land(mountain glaciers and ice sheet). Large ice formations melt back every summer but the snowfall in the winter is usually enough to balance it out. Higher temperatures mean that more ice is melting and less is being replaced, this results in a net gain in runoff vs evaporation for the ocean causing sea levels to rise

How do convection currents operate in oceans

Convection currents in the ocean operate due to differences in water temperature and salinity, which cause variations in density. Warmer water, which is less dense, rises to the surface, while cooler, denser water sinks. This creates a continuous movement of water, where warmer surface water moves towards the poles, and colder water travels towards the equator. These currents play a crucial role in regulating the earth's climate and distributing heat across the globe.

What is the great barrier reef

The largest coral reef system and stretches for over 1600 miles

why does it matter that there are plastics in the ocean

• 51 trillion microplastics

• Microplastics are making their way into our food

• Animals get trapped in the plastic

• Predicted to be more plastics in the ocean than fish by 2050

• Animals starve to death with indigestible microplastics filling up their stomachs

Why is the south china sea disputed

• deep waters allow container ships to use it as a shipping route

• Gas and oil reserves offer energy security

• Secure food supply with fish stocks

• Spratly Islands make a strategic location for military bases

• 5 trillion dollars worth of trade passes through the SCS