Marine Systems Exam 1 - Greg

Marine Biology

Study of marine organisms and ecosystems.

Marine Science

Scientific study of oceanic environments.

Binomial Nomenclature

Two-part naming system for species classification.

Linnaeus

Developed binomial nomenclature system.

Cuvier

Pioneered animal morphology classification.

Challenger Expeditions

First scientific oceanographic research (1872-1876).

Louis Agassiz

Founded first North American marine sciences school.

Penikese Island

Location of Agassiz's marine science school.

Howard Sanders

Studied intertidal and shallow marine ecology.

Charles Darwin

Formulated theory of natural selection.

Coral Reef Formation

Process of coral growth and ecosystem development.

Cornelia Clapp

Pioneering woman in marine science, associated with MBL.

EE Just

Known for developmental biology and radiation studies.

Roger Arliner Young

Studied radiation effects on embryos.

Forbes' Error

Claimed life couldn't exist below 300m depth.

Marie Tharp

Mapped ocean floor, discovered mid-Atlantic ridge.

Heresy

Term for Tharp's groundbreaking oceanic discoveries.

Tectonic Drift

Movement of Earth's plates affecting ocean basins.

ALVIN

Deep-sea submersible for ocean exploration.

Ventana

Stationary fiber optic networks for marine research.

Tara Oceans Expeditions

Global scientific expeditions studying ocean ecosystems.

Scientific Method

Systematic approach to scientific inquiry and testing.

Induction

Knowledge accumulation leading to hypotheses.

Experimental Testing

Process involving observations and controlled experiments.

Ocean Coverage

Oceans cover 71% of Earth's surface.

Earth's Water Composition

Oceans contain over 95% of Earth's water.

Southern Hemisphere Coverage

Southern Hemisphere has 80% ocean coverage.

Northern Hemisphere Coverage

Northern Hemisphere has 61% ocean coverage.

Ocean Depth

84% of oceans are deeper than 2000m.

Greatest Ocean Depth

Marianas Trench reaches ~11,000 m depth.

Marginal Seas

Coastal bodies of water significantly influenced by land.

Gulf of Mexico

Example of a significant marginal sea.

Mediterranean Sea

Another important marginal sea with limited exchange.

Dynamic Water Relationships

Interactions of various water inputs in oceans.

Particulate Mineral Matter

Solid particles suspended in ocean water.

Dissolved Salts

Ionic compounds dissolved in seawater.

Particulate Organic Matter (POM)

Organic materials suspended in ocean water.

Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM)

Organic substances dissolved in seawater.

Atmospheric Precipitation

Rain and snow contributing to ocean water.

Volcanic Sources

Minerals and gases released from underwater volcanoes.

Continental Shelf

Shallow sea area adjacent to continents.

Continental Slope

Steep descent from continental shelf to ocean floor.

Continental Rise

Gentle slope leading to abyssal plain.

Abyssal Plain

Flat, deep ocean floor areas.

Oceanic Ridge Systems

Underwater mountain ranges formed by tectonic activity.

Seafloor Spreading

Process where new oceanic crust forms at ridges.

Water Molecule Properties

Asymmetrical charge enables water's solvent capabilities.

Colligative Properties

Properties dependent on solute concentration in solution.

Specific Heat of Water

Water requires 4.184 Joules to raise 1g by 1°C.

High heat of evaporation

Energy required to evaporate water, 2500 J/g.

High dissolving power

Ability of water to dissolve various substances.

High transparency

Water absorbs infrared and ultraviolet light.

Latitudinal Gradient

Variation in temperature with latitude in oceans.

Vertical Temperature Gradient

Temperature change with depth in ocean layers.

Oceanic temperature range

From -1.9 to 40 °C in oceans.

Deep ocean temperature

Typically between 2 to 4 °C.

Salinity definition

Grams of dissolved salts per 1000 g seawater.

Salinity units

Measured in o/oo, ppt, or psu.

Salinity range

Open ocean salinity is 32 to 38 o/oo.

Forchhammer's Principle

Constant ratios of elements despite salinity variations.

Residence time

Average time an element remains in the ocean.

Mixing time

Time taken for water to mix, ~1000 years.

Chloride residence time

Approximately 100 million years in seawater.

Sodium residence time

Approximately 68 million years in seawater.

Sigma-T surfaces

Measure seawater density at specific temperature.

Density of seawater

Influenced by salinity and temperature variations.

Density formula

σt = (density - 1) x 1000.

Advection

Bulk movement of fluid carrying heat and salt.

Convection

Vertical movement of fluid due to heating.

Measurement of salinity

Determined by chlorinity and chemical methods.

Gases in seawater

Dissolved gases affecting marine life and chemistry.

Vertical density gradients

Density changes with depth, affecting ocean currents.

Sigma-t

Density measure of seawater adjusted for salinity.

Seawater Density

Density influenced by salt, varies with temperature.

Vertical Density Gradients

Density changes with depth in ocean layers.

Thermohaline Circulation

Deep ocean movement driven by temperature and salinity.

Anoxia

Low oxygen condition in water bodies.

Oxygen Minimum Layer

Depth layer with lowest dissolved oxygen concentration.

Hydrogen Bonding

Attraction between water molecules affecting properties.

Salinity

Concentration of salt in seawater affecting density.

Specific Heat

Amount of heat required to change water temperature.

Density Stratification

Layering of water due to density differences.

Photosynthesis

Process converting light energy into chemical energy.

Light Intensity Decline

Exponential decrease of light with ocean depth.

Fjord Circulation

Water exchange dynamics between fjords and open sea.

Temperature Profile

Variation of seawater temperature with depth.

Chemical Characteristics

Properties influenced by solute composition in seawater.

Plate Tectonics

Movement of Earth's plates affecting geological features.

Vesuvius Eruption

Historical volcanic event destroying Pompeii in AD 79.

Density Flow

Movement of water layers based on density differences.

Western Boundary Current

Current found on western edges of ocean basins.

Gulf Stream

Warm-water current in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Eddies

Circular currents transporting organisms in oceans.

Polar Vortex

Large-scale circulation pattern affecting polar regions.

Law of Unintended Consequences

Complex systems respond unexpectedly to changes.

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of moving objects due to Earth's rotation.

Ekman Spiral

Layered water movement caused by wind and Coriolis.

Langmuir Cells

Surface currents creating parallel lines on ocean.

Upwelling

Vertical movement of water caused by wind.

Ekman Transport

Water movement due to wind and Coriolis effect.