Marine Science End of Year Review Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing marine science concepts, calculations, and vocabulary in preparation for the final exam.

What is the formula to convert meters to feet?

1 m = 3.28 ft

What is the formula to convert miles to kilometers?

1 mi = 1.6 km

What is the formula to convert kilometers to meters?

1 km = 1000 m

What is the formula to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit?

°F = 1.8(°C) + 32

What is convection?

Movement of heat in a fluid, causing warm material to rise and cool material to sink.

What is sea-floor spreading?

The formation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.

What is the inner core?

The solid, dense center of Earth composed primarily of iron and nickel.

What is subduction?

A region where one tectonic plate slides under another.

What are hydrothermal vents?

Openings in the sea floor that release heated, mineral-rich water.

What is oceanic crust?

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

What does DART stand for, and what does it do?

Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis; detects underwater earthquakes.

What are black smokers?

A type of hydrothermal vent that emits black-colored mineral-rich water.

What is a convergent plate boundary?

A boundary where two tectonic plates move toward each other.

What is a rift?

A linear zone where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart.

What is the mantle?

The semi-solid layer of Earth between the crust and core.

What is a divergent plate boundary?

A boundary where two plates move away from each other.

What are tectonic plates?

Large pieces of Earth's crust that move over the mantle.

What is the outer core?

The liquid layer of Earth between the mantle and inner core.

What is a transform plate boundary?

A boundary where two plates slide past one another.

What are tsunamis?

Large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

What is continental crust?

The thicker, less dense part of the Earth's crust that forms continents.

What is a wave?

A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.

What is a transverse wave?

A wave in which the particles move perpendicular to the wave direction.

What is a longitudinal wave?

A wave in which particles move parallel to the wave direction.

What is an orbital wave?

Circular motion of water particles in a surface wave.

What is a trough?

The lowest point of a wave.

What is wave height?

The vertical distance between the crest and trough.

What is wavelength?

Distance between two corresponding points on adjacent waves.

What is frequency?

Number of waves passing a point per second.

What is the period of a wave?

The time it takes for one complete wave to pass a point.

What is the medium of a wave?

The substance a wave travels through.

What is a pioneer zone?

Area closest to the shore with early colonizing plants.

What is a scrub zone?

Zone with hardy shrubs and salt-tolerant plants.

What is a forest zone?

Area further inland with larger vegetation.

What causes tides?

Gravitational forces.

What is a tidal period?

Time between successive high or low tides.

What is a tidal range?

Difference between high and low tide levels.

What is a tidal rise?

Vertical change in sea level.

What is a tidal day?

A 24-hour and 50-minute cycle of tides.

What are spring tides?

Higher high tides and lower low tides during full/new moon.

What are neap tides?

Lower tidal range during quarter moons.

What is a rip current?

Narrow, fast current moving away from shore.

What is an ebb current?

Water moving away from the shore as tide lowers.

What is a flood current?

Water moving toward the shore as tide rises.

What is a longshore current?

Current that moves parallel to the shore, transporting sediment.

What is sea level?

The average level of the ocean's surface.

What are the 6 Water Quality Parameters for the Tampa Bay Estuary?

Salinity, pH, Turbidity, Nitrates, Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature

Name 3 tools used to collect Salinity

Hydrometer, Digital Sensor, Refractometer

What is the main identifier of Red Mangroves?

Prop Roots

What is the main identifier of Black Mangroves?

Pneumatophores