Aice Marines unit 3 review questions flashcards

Density is expressed in units of _______/__________.

mass and volume

What factors affect the density of water?

temperature and salinity

Why does cold water tend to sink?

Cold water has a higher density than warm water

What role does salinity play in density?

As salinity increases, density increases

How is the ocean stratified (layered) by density?

Less dense water is found in higher ocean depth levels than more dense water

What names are given to the ocean density zones?

surface layer, pycnocline, deep layer

Which of the 3 layers has more than 80% of the ocean’s water?

Deep zone

List four things that are found in seawater (not including water)

Dissolved salts, Dissolved gases, organic molecules, Suspended sediments

Define salinity:

Concentration of dissolved salts in seawater

What is the principle of constant proportions?

The salinity of seawater varies in different areas of the ocean, but the proportions of the major salts in seawater stay about the same everywhere

Does saltwater freeze at a higher or lower temp than freshwater?

Freezes at Lower temperature than freshwater

What units are commonly used with salinity?

PPT (parts per thousand)

What is the average ocean salinity?

35PPT

What are the four most abundant ions in seawater

Chloride, Sodium, Sulfate, and Magnesium

How does salt dissolve in water?

The polarity of water interacts with ions from ionic substances; called the dissolution of ions

What factors may increase salinity?

Evaporation and the formation of sea ice

What factors may decrease salinity?

Precipitation, runoff, and the melting of sea ice

What are three main gases dissolved in seawater? Which is the most soluble in seawater?

Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide; CO2 is most soluble

How is oxygen added to the ocean? How is it taken away?

Oxygen is added to the ocean through the photosynthesis; Oxygen is taken away from the ocean through respiration

What is the oxygen minimum layer? Where is it found?

Area where Oxygen levels start decreasing as depth increases; found beneath the surface level

How is CO2 added to the ocean? How is it taken away?

Carbon Dioxide is added to the ocean through respiration; Carbon Dioxide is taken from the ocean through photosynthesis

How does temperature affect the solubility of these gases?

Gases are more soluble in cold water than at warmer temperatures.

How does pressure affect the solubility of these gases?

The solubility of gases increases with increasing pressure.

How does salinity affect the solubility of these gases?

Gases are better able to dissolve in water with lower salinity.

How do these levels vary with depth?

The surface level is 150 meters deep, the pycnocline is 1000 meters deep, the deep zone can be 4000 meters deep 

How can we measure pH?

Litmus indicator, universal indicator, pH probe

What ion do acids add to solution? What ion do alkaline substances add to solution?

H+ concentration is acidic OH- concentration is alkaline

What substance buffers the ocean?

Calcium Carbonate (CaCo3)

Where in the world do we see the most pronounced thermocline? Why?

Tropical water; Surface water is more heated by the sun in equatorial regions of the ocean. 

What causes the different gradients to form?

Strong winds, wave action, currents, and upwelling 

When salt dissolves in water, what the solute and what is the solvent?

Salt is the solute; water is the solvent