OEAS106N Lab Final Study Guide Flashcards

Study flashcards covering tools, calculations, and lab exercises related to ocean and environmental science.

CTD

Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth - a tool used to measure these three important water properties.

Secchi disk

A tool used to measure the clarity of water by determining how deep it can be seen.

Plankton Splitter

A device used to split plankton samples equally for analysis.

Wave Height

The vertical distance between the crest and the trough of a wave.

Crest

The highest part of a wave.

Trough

The lowest part of a wave.

Longshore transport

The movement of sediments along the coast at an angle to the shoreline.

Destructive Waves

High energy waves that remove material and sand from the beach due to strong backwash.

Constructive Waves

Low energy waves that build up the beach with a weak backwash.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic plants in the ocean that are primary producers, using photosynthesis to convert light into chemical energy.

Zooplankton

Microscopic animals in the ocean that are primary consumers, often unable to swim against currents.

Holoplankton

Plankton that spend their entire lives as plankton.

Meroplankton

Plankton that only spend part of their lives as plankton, usually in larval forms.

Infauna

Organisms that live within the sediment.

Epifauna

Organisms that live on the surface of the sediment.

Macrofauna

Larger benthic organisms greater than 1000 micrometers.

Meiofauna

Smaller benthic organisms less than 100 micrometers.

Rose Bengal

A pink dye used to color organisms for easier visualization in samples.

Refractometer

An instrument used to measure the concentration of solutes in a liquid by using the property of refraction.

Nutrient analysis

The study and breakdown of nutrients in the water, particularly from phytoplankton decay.

Trawl net

to collect organisms

plankton tow

to collect plankton samples

benthic grab

to collect a portion of the ocean floor

Still water level (SWL)

the level that the water would be if there were no waves.

celerity

how fast a wave moves

wavelength/wave period = cm/s

standing wave

vertical transfer of energy

The surface of the water oscillates vertically between

fixed points, called nodes, without progression

progressive waves

lateral transfer of energy

They move from one point to another (waves you see at the beach)

Progress through the water, away from the point of origin

long wavelength =

low energy

short wavelength =

high energy

plunging breakers

beaches with steep slopes. crest curls and breaks quickly

spilling breakers

beaches with low slopes

gently fall over and slowly release energy

surging breakers

looks like its gonna fall like a plunging one but before it can it just moves forward

summer waves=

build up beaches

winter waves =

erode beaches

the 4 nutrients

nitrate

ammonium

phosphate

silica

photosynthesis

mechanism by which phytoplankton convert light energy into chemical energy using sunlight. oxygen is produced

respiration

breakdown of phytoplankton after they die and sink. This releases nutrients back into the water. oxygen is consumed

Copepod

holoplankton, shrimp like,

most abundant

classified by antenna, and or tail

molluscs

shelled organisms, burrowed in seds

clam, oysters , snails

annelids

worm-like orgs

rings

burrowed in sediments

echinoderms

sea urchin- like orgs

starfish, sea cucumber,

deep trenches of ocean

arthropods

major predators organisms

crabs , shrimp, lobster

vast range of habitats

shallow water

d/l <.5

deep water

d/l > .5

dinoflagellates , diatoms

phytoplankton

holo and mero plankton

zooplankton