Intro and Aspects of Water

MSCI 340

Heat Capacity

Heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of an object by

1 degree celsius

Specific Heat

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree celsius

Surface Tension

the tension of the surface film of a liquid caused by the attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area

Viscosity

a fluid's internal resistance to flow or deformation, acting as a measure of its "thickness" or internal friction

Water Density

1g/cm³

Depth Profile

determines the local composition of the material as a function of its depth beneath the surface

Thermocline

a steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures

Halocline

distinct, vertical layer in a body of water—such as an ocean, estuary, or cave—where salinity changes rapidly with depth, typically separating less salty surface water from denser, saltier deep water

Stratification

the formation of distinct, stable layers in a body of water due to density differences, usually caused by temperature or salinity

Mixing

the seasonal process where a body of water mixes from top to bottom, usually occurring in spring and fall due to temperature-driven density changes

Photic Zone

the top layer of a body of water, typically extending down to ~200 meters in the ocean, that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis

Aphotic Zone

the deep, dark layer of the ocean or lakes where sunlight penetration is less than 1%, rendering photosynthesis impossible

Light Attenuation

the gradual decrease in the intensity or energy of light as it travels through a medium, caused by absorption, scattering, or the natural spreading of light over distance

Thermal Expansion

the increase in a material's length, area, or volume due to rising temperatures, as increased kinetic energy causes particles to move further apart

Fresh and Saltwater Densities

Fresh - 4 celsius; Salt - 0 celsius

Turbidity

the measure of relative clarity or cloudiness of a liquid, caused by suspended particles like sediment, algae, and organic matter scattering light

Universal Solvent

its polar molecular structure allows it to dissolve more substances—including salts, sugars, minerals, and gases—than any other liquid

Salinity

concentration of all salts in water (seawater 34.4ppt)

Principle of Constant Proportions

the relative ratios of the major dissolved ions in open-ocean seawater remain constant, even though the total salinity varies by location

Conservative Elements

concentration only altered by physical variables

Non-Conservative Elements

vary due to biological and chemical processes

Mixed Elements

variation in a narrow band, thereafter conservative pattern

Trace Elements

minerals present in living tissues in small amounts