oceans A

what are the three oceanographic disciplines?

- physical

- chemical

- biological

physical disciplines of oceans

- bathymetry (depth variation)

- temp/density

- circulation

- waves/tides

chemical properties of oceans-

- salinity

- nutrients

biological properties of oceans

- phytoplankton

- zooplankton

- nekton

- benthic

oceans hold how much of the water?

97.6%, rt: 3000 y

hypsographic curve shows that

- only about 29% of land is above ocean surface

- two flat zones (one in the ocean)

water in oceans is a relatively ___ coating of water

thin

where is most of earths surface?

underwater

- super complex

- holds the 'tallest' mountain

where do trenches exist

where tectonic plates come together

how do surface temps of oceans vary?

by latitude

- warm tropics and cool polar

what is different about ocean temps?

variability

- low in tropics and polar zones

- higher in mid-latitudes

- MAX in mid N latitudes

the vertical temp of oceans

differ

- shallow zones show a clear lens

oceans have a ____ thermocline

permanent

what is the thermocline in the tropics?

- shallow, around <500m

- poor seasonal stratification of surface layer

what is the thermocline in the mid latitudes?

- deeper permanent thermoclines

- strong seasonal stratification

nothern mid latitude seasonal thermoclines are

monomictic like

- depth and strength of stratification varies with surface water temps and seasonal winds

what are trade winds?

- occur at tropics

- move towards the west

what are westerlies?

- occur at 30-60 N/S

- move towards the east

what forms gyres

Coriolis effect

what do gyres accumulate

algae

coriolis effect

the deflection of an object's path due to the rotation of Earth

- N hem moves to right

- S hem moves to left

what is the sargasso sea?

one of the very few marine places with extensive floating vegetation

- is essentially a gyre

what do oceanic gyres have?

- TRASH

-- great pacific garbage patches = gyre zones

floating plastic debris from pollution is now supporting a

novel sea surface community that holds coastal and oceanic species

langmuir circulation

when prevailing winds and waves interact

- langmuir circulation is at a right angle to wind

- concentrates algae and other particles

what is a la nina condition? -

- strong trade winds

- warmer faster

what is an el nino condition?

- weak trade winds

- two heat periods mesh

- warmer later

surface salinity varies by

latitude

high salinity means

high evaporation

- tropics and enclosed seas

low salinity means

dilution with fresh water

- river deltas and polar

how many saline anomalies are there

three

vertical salinity differences

- salt water is heavier

- less saline at equator

- salinity patterns of low ocean impact deep ocean circulation

what occurs at the DEEP ocean?

- permanent thermocline

-- cold and dark

- movement comes from density

- T-S plots show why some separation at these depths

how does water return to the surface ocean?

up welling zones

what do upwelling zones do

bring high nutrient water to surface

what do upwelling zones result in

great fishing and seaweed patches

- there are major coastal upwelling zones

florida seaweed patch

- more seaweed further south

- comes from africa

great ocean conveyor belt

a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity

where is deep ocean water formed?

three zones with HEAVY water (cold and salty)