Marine science

Sea

 When water near the ocean floor rises up towards the surface carrying with it a high level of nutrients.

Upwelling

When water near the ocean floor rises up towards the surface carrying with it a high level of nutrients.

Wind

 Creates waves, surface currents, and contributes to up-welling

California current

Cold ocean current that moves South along the western shore of North America. Originates in Alaska

Fetch

The distance over the water the wind blows which creates waves.

Trade winds

 Caused by the Earth's rotation and drive the global ocean currents

Gulf stream

Warm ocean current that flows up the eastern coast of North America toward Canada.

Describe how salinity changes as you move away from the equator.

Salinity decreases since evaporation occurs and salt is left behind; also rains a lot

Describe the salinity of the Polar Seas

Less salty but unique because of ice bergs, which when frozen cannot contain the salt, so the water directly under the iceberg is very salty.

Does ocean water freeze at higher temperatures or lower temperatures than lake water?

Ocean water freezes at lower temperatures because of the salt content of the water that freshwater lakes do not have.

How does the salt content of water change the density?

More salt; the higher the density will be.

Where does the Calcium Carbonate in the oceans come from?

From the wearing down of shells from organisms and from coral reefs

 What effect does evaporation have on the salinity of the ocean?

Evaporation increases the salinity of ocean water because when water evaporates it leaves the salt behind.

 What is one factor that does NOT affect the tides of the earth?

Wind

Describe coastal upwelling- is it beneficial or bad for the ocean environment?. 

Coastal upwelling is beneficial for the ocean environment because of its rich nutrients that come from the bottom of the ocean.

Northern Hemisphere

Clockwise

Southern Hemisphere

Counter Clockwise

Describe El Nino: is it beneficial or bad for the ocean environment? How often does it occur? When?

It is bad since it keeps upwelling from happening with very warm temperatures: prevents nutrients from reaching the surface.

 Where do the nutrients come from in coastal upwelling?

The decomposition of bodies and dead creatures.

Wind waves vs. Tsunami waves

Wind waves are caused by wind, Tsunami caused by underwater earthquake

What is the difference between marine biology and oceanography?

Marine biology is the study of living organisms. Oceanography is the study of the physical parts of the oceans, like waves.

Name the cold water currents in the Southern Hemisphere.

Peru Current

What 3 factors contribute to the size of a wave?

Wind strength, wind duration, and fetch.