AICE Marine AS Level Vocabulary

Hypothesis

an explanation of an observation that can be tested through experimentation

Variable

A condition in an experiment that can be controlled or changed

Theory

a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation

Qualitative data

descriptive data about a variable

Quantitative data

numerical data that gives the quantity, amount or range of a variable

Prediction

a statement of the expected results in an experiment based on the hypothesis being tested

Independent variable

the variable being changed in an experiment

Dependent variable

the variable being measured in an experiment

Control experiment

a group within an investigation or study that receives exactly the same treatment as the experimental groups with the exception of the variable being tested

Control variables

variables that are not being tested but must be kept the same in case they affect the experiment

Confounding variable

a variable that could affect the independent or dependent variable and therefore the results of the experiment

Water bath

a container of water heated to a given temperature which can be used to either vary or control the temperature

Buffer

a solution which can maintain a relatively stable pH

Reliable

results that can be replicated by other people

Anomaly (anomalous)

a result or observation that deviates from what is normal or expected; in experimental results, it normally refers to one repeated result that does not fit the pattern of the others

Precision (in measurements)

the level of refinement in a measurement as shown by the number of significant figures given

Precision (in experiments)

this refers to the closeness of the measurements to each other; precise measurements are close to each other and there is little spread about the mean

Accuracy

ensuring that measurements are close to the true value

Line graph

a graph which is drawn to show the relationship between two continuous variables

Histogram

a graph which is drawn to show the frequency of one continuous variable

Bar chart

a graph which is drawn to show the relationship between one continuous and one discontinuous variable

Continuous variable

one which can take any value

Discontinuous variable

one which can only take certain values

Systematic error

A consistent error which affects each measurement in the same way, normally caused by faulty measuring equipment or difficulties in reading that equipment

Random error

an error in measurement which is caused by factors that vary from one measurement to another

Element

a substance that cannot be chemically broken down into a simpler substance

Compound

a substance containing two or more elements chemically bonded together

Molecule

a group of atoms covalently bonded together

atom

the smallest unit of a chemical element that retains the properties of that element. It cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances.

Kinetic particle theory

the theory of how particles (such as atoms and molecules) move in relation to each other and the amount of energy within the system

Water vapor

the gaseous state of water; produced when liquid water evaporates or boils

Proton

a positively charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

Neutrons

a neutral subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

Electron

a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom

Nucleus

the positively charged central core of an atom that is made of protons and neutrons

Shells

each of a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom that can be occupied by electrons

atomic number

the number of protons contained in the nucleus of an atom

bond

a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a substance

emergent properties

characteristics that are present within a compound or molecule of two or more different elements that those elements do not possess on their own

covalent bond

chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms

ionic bond

the chemical bond that involves the attraction between two oppositely charged ions

hydrogen bond

a weak bond between two molecules due to the electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an atom of oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine in the other molecule

ion

an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons creating an electrical charge

polar

when opposite sides of a molecule have contrasting (partial) electrical charges

solvent

a substance which is able to dissolve other substances

density

a measure of the mass of a defined volume of water

specific heat capacity

the heat required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of a given substance by one degree Celsius

solute

a solid that dissolves in a solvent

solution

a mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent

solubility

the ability of a solute to dissolve within a solvent

dissolution

the process of being dissolved

salinity

a measure of the number of dissolved solids in ocean water, represented by parts per thousand (ppt)

precipitation

water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface as rain, sleet, snow, or hail

run-off

the flow of water from land caused by precipitation

evaporation

a change in state from liquid to gas below the boiling point of a substance

hypersaline

when a body of water has a salinity level greater than 40 ppt

halocline

a layer of water below the mixed surface later where a rapid change in salinity can be measured as the depth increases

thermocline

a layer between two layers of water with different temperatures

pH

a numeric value expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale

acidic

having a pH below 7

alkaline

having a pH greater than 7

neutral

having a pH that equals 7

pH scale

a logarithmic scale that measures the ratio of hydrogen ions to hydroxide ions

turbulence

irregular changes in the speed and direction of fluid movement

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

concentration of oxygen dissolved in a solution

phytoplankton

microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that live in the upper, sunlit layers of water

oxygen minimum layer

the layer within the ocean where the concentration of dissolved oxygen is at its lowest, typically found below the photic zone between 100m and 1000m deep

water column

a vertical section of water from the surface to the bottom; a useful concept when discussing changes in the abiotic factors within the body of water

gradient

the rate of change in the y-axis value as the x-axis value increases

thermal insulator

a substance that reduces the rate of transfer of thermal energy

pycnocline

a layer of water between two layers of water with different densities

estuary

a partially enclosed, tidal, coastal body of water where fresh water from a river meets the saltwater of the ocean

littoral zone

the benthic, or bottom zone between the highest and lowest spring tide water marks on a shoreline; also referred to as the intertidal zone

earthquake

a sudden release of energy inside the Earth that creates seismic waves; usually caused by the movement of tectonic plates of volcanic activity

crust

the outermost layer of rock on Earth

mantle

a region of molten rock within the interior of the Earth, between the core and the crust

core

the dense, central region within Earth

seismic

having to do with the vibrations of the earth's crust

oceanic crust

the dense, basaltic later of crust that makes up the bottom of the ocean basins

continental crust

the thicker, less dense crust that makes up the foundation of the continents

continental drift

a theory supporting the possibility that continents are able to move over the Earth's surface

plate tectonics

the process where large sections (plates) of the Earth's crust are in constant movement over the fluid mantle, causing earthquakes and volcanoes at the borders between the plates

lithosphere

the outermost layer of the Earth's crust

mid-ocean ridge

a mountain range with a central valley on an ocean floor at the boundary between two diverging tectonic plates, where new crust forms from upwelling magma

paleomagnetic stripes

the pattern of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor due to reversals in the Earth's magnetic field and seafloor spreading

polarity

having two opposite states of being on either end (such as the North and South pole, or the positive and negative end of a magnet

divergent boundary

where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other

convection current

the movement of fluids or air based on density differences caused by differing temperature

convergent boundary

when two or more tectonic plates come together

subduction

the process where one lithospheric plate slides below another at a convergent plate boundary

trench

a long, narrow, and deep depression on the ocean floor with relatively steep sides; caused by convergent plate boundaries

volcano

a mountain or hill with a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being forced from the Earth's crust

tsunami

a seismic sea wave created by an underwater earthquake or volcanic element; not noticeable in the open ocean but building to great heights in shallow water

hydrothermal vent

an area where cold ocean water that has seeped into the Earth's crust is superheated by underlying magma and forced through vents in the ocean floor

transform boundary

when two plates are moving in an antiparallel direction, creating friction between them

abyssal plain

a flat, sandy region of the ocean floor between trenches and the continental rise

weathering

the wearing down or breaking of rocks through physical, chemical or organic means

erosion

a natural process where material is worn away from the Earth's surface and transported elsewhere

sedimentation

the deposition of suspended particles from water

deposition

a geological process where sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or landmass