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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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absorption |
conversion of sound or light energy into heat |
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acid |
a substance that releases a hydrogen ion (H+) in solution |
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active sonar |
a device that generates underwater sound from special transducers and analyzes the returning echoes to gain information of geological, biological, or military importance |
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adhesion |
attachment of water molecules to other substances by hydrogen bonds; wetting |
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alkaline |
basic. (see base) |
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aphotic zone |
the dark ocean below the depth to which light can penetrate |
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base |
a substance that combines with a hydrogen ion (H1) in solution |
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buffer |
a group of substances that tends to resist change in the ph of a solution by combining with free ions |
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calorie |
the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of pure water by 1 degree Celsius |
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chemical bond |
an energy relationship that holds two atoms together as a result of changes in their electron distribution |
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chemical equilibrium |
in seawater, the condition in which the proportion and amounts of dissolved salts per unit volume of ocean are nearly constant |
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cohesion |
attachment of water molecules to each other by hydrogen bonds |
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covalent bond |
a chemical bond formed between two atoms by electron sharing |
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deep zone |
the zone of the ocean below the pycnocline, in which there is little additional change of density with increasing depth; contains about 80% of the world's water |
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degrees |
an arbitrary measure of temperature. one degree C= 1.8 degrees F |
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density |
the mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter ( g/cm3) |
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density curve |
a graph showing the relationship between a fluid's temperature or salinity and its density |
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electron |
a tiny negatively charged particle in an atom responsible for chemical bonding |
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excess volatiles |
a compound found in the ocean and atmosphere in quantities greater than can be accounted for by the weathering of surface rock. Such compound probably entered the atmosphere and ocean from deep crustal and upper mantle sources through volcanism |
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freezing points |
the temperature at which a solid can begin to form as liquid is cooled |
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halocline |
the zone of the ocean in which salinity increases rapidly with depth (see pycnocline) |
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heat |
a form of energy produced by the random vibration of atoms or molecules |
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heat capacity |
the heat, measured in calories, required to raise 1 g of a substance 1 C. The input of 1 calorie of heat energy raises the temperature of 1 g of pure water by 1C |
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hydrogen bond |
a relatively weak bond formed between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative oxygen, flourine, or nitrogen atom of an adjacent molecule |
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hydrologic cycle |
the continuous cycling of water from atmosphere to land and ocean through precipitation, and back to the atmosphere via evaporation |
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ion |
an atom (or small group of atoms) that becomes electrically charged by gaining or losing one or more electrons |
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latent heat of evaporation |
heat added to a liquid during evaporation (or released from gas during condensation) that produces a change in state but not a change in temperature. for pure water, 585 calories per gram at 20 C (68F) (compare to latent heat of vaporization) |
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latent heat of fusion |
heat removed from a liquid during freezing (or added to a solid during thawing) that produces a change in state but not in temperature. For pure water, 80 calories per gram at 0 C (32F) |
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latent heat of vaporization |
heat added to a liquid during evaporation (or released from gas during condensation) that produces a change in state but not in temperature. For pure water, 540 calories per gram at 100C (212F) |
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light |
electromagnetic radiation propagated as small, nearly mass less particles that behave like both a wave and a stream of particles |
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mixed layer (surface zone) |
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mixing time |
the time necessary to mix a substance through the ocean, about 1600 years |
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molecule |
a group of atoms held together by chemical bonds. The smallest unit of a compound that retains the characteristics of the compound |
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ph scale |
a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution; numerically, the negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution. A ph of 7 is neutral; lower numbers indicate acidity, and higher numbers indicate alkalinity |
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photic zone |
the thin film of lighted water at the top of the world ocean. The photic zone rarely extends deeper than 200 meters (660ft) |
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polar |
pertaining to areas near Earth's north and south poles |
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principle of constant proportions |
the proportions of major conservative elements in seawater remain nearly constant, though total salinity may change with location; also called Forchhammer's Principle |
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proton |
a positively charged particle at the center of an atom |
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pycnocline |
the middle zone of the ocean in which density increases rapidly with depth. Temperature falls and salinity rises in this zone |
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refraction |
bending of light or sound waves as they move at an angle other than 90 degrees between media of different optical or acoustical densities. (see wave refraction) |
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residence time |
the average length of time a dissolved substance spends in the ocean |
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salinity |
a measure of the dissolved solids in seawater, usually expressed in grams per kilogram or parts per thousand by weight. Standard seawater has salinity of 35% at 0C |
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salinometer |
an electronic device that determines salinity by measuring the electrical conductivity of a seawater sample |
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scattering |
the dispersion (or "bounce") of sound or light waves when they strike particles suspended in water or air. The amount of scatter depends on the number, size, and composition of the particles |
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sensible heat |
heat whose gain or loss is detectable by a thermometer or other sensors |
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SOFAR |
Sound Fixing And Ranging. An experimental US Navy technique for locating survivors on life rafts, based on the fact that sound from explosive charges dropped into the layer of minimum sound velocity can be heard for great distances. (see sofar layer) |
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SOFAR layer |
layer of minimum sound velocity in which sound transmission is unusually efficient for long distances. Sounds leaving this depth tend to be refracted back into it. The sofar layer usually occurs at mid-latitude depths around 1200 meters (4000 ft) |
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sound |
a form of energy transmitted by rapid pressure changes in an elastic medium |
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state |
an expression of the internal form of matter. Water exists in three states: liquid, solid and gas. A solid has a fixed volume and fixed shape, a liquid has a fixed volume but no fix shape, and gas has neither fixed volume nor fixed shape |
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surface zone (mixed layer) |
the upper layer of ocean in which temperature and salinity are relatively constant with depth. Depending on local conditions, the surface zone may reach to 1000 meters (3000 ft) or be absent entirely. also called the mixed layer |
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temperature |
the response of a solid, liquid, or gas to the input or removal of heat energy. A measure of the atomic and molecular vibration in a substance, indicated in degrees. |
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thermal equilibrium |
the condition in which the total heat coming into a system (such as a planet) is balanced by the total heat leaving the system |
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thermal inertia |
tendency of a substance to resist change in temperature with the gain or loss of heat energy |
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thermocline |
the zone of the ocean in which temperature decreases rapidly with depth. (see pycnolkine) |
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thermostatic properties |
a property of water that acts to moderate changes in temeperature |
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trace elements |
a minor constituent of seawater present in amounts of less than 1 part per million |
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water mass |
a body of water identifiable by its salinity and temperature (and therefore its density) or by its gas content or another indicator |
