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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Hydrogen Bonds |
the weak bonds that hold separate water molecules to each other as the positive (hydrogen) region of one water molecule is attracted to the negative (oxygen) region of another. Although they are relatively weak and temporary, their large number greatly restricts the motion of water molecules and has profound effects on the nature of water. |
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Salinity |
The total dissolved inorganic solids in a sample of seawater. Salinity is generally around 3.5%. The two most common ways to measure salinity are to measure the electrical conductivity or the chlorinity (chlorine concentration) of a sample. Salinity is proportional to both. |
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Thermohaline Circulation |
A large scale mixing of the oceans driven by the sinking of cold dense water near the poles. |
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Gyre |
A large circular ocean current that flows around the periphery of an ocean. Gyres in the northern hemisphere flow in a clockwise direction while in the southern hemisphere they flow counterclockwise. |
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Primary Production |
the biological synthesis of organic food molecules such as glucose sugar from inorganic molecules. Photosynthesis is the major form of primary production. |
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Upwelling |
An upward moving ocean current that brings cold and often nutrient-rich bottom water to the surface. |
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Zooxanthellae |
Symbiotic, photosynthetic algea that live within the tissues of hermatypic corals and supply the coral polyps with sugars and other food molecules derived from the algea's photosynthesis. |
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Coriolis Effect |
The apparent deflection of a moving object from its initial course when its speed and direction are measures in reference to the surface of the rotating Earth. The object is deflected to the fright of its anticipated course in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The deflection occurs for any horizontal movement of objects with mass, and has no effect at the equator. |
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Hadley Cell |
The atmospheric circulation cell nearest the equator in each hemisphere. Air in these cells rises near the equator due to strong solar heating there, and falls due to cooling at about 30 degrees latitude. |
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Monsoon |
A pattern of wind circulation that changes seasonally. Also, the rainy season in areas with monsoon wind patterns. |
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El Nino |
A southward-flowing, nutrient-poor current of warm water off the coast of South America, caused by a breakdown of trade wind circulation. |
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Gulf Stream |
The strongest western boundary current of the Nortah Atlantic, found off the east coast of the U.S |
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Upwelling |
A circulation pattern in which deep, cold, usually nutrient-laden water moves toward the surface. Can be caused by winds blowing parallel to shore or offshore. |
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Antarctic Bottom Water |
The densest ocean water, formed primarily in Antartica's Weddell Sea during Southern Hemisphere winters. |
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Caballing |
Mixing of two water masses of identical densities but different temperatures and salinities, such that the resulting mixture is denser than it's components. |
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Thermocline |
A subcategory of the pycnocline, referring to the rapid decrease in temperature with depth. |
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Thermohaline ciculation |
Water circulation produced by differences in temperature and/or salinity, and therefore density. |
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Internal Wave |
Progressive wave occurring at the boundary between liquids of different densities. |
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Rogue Wave |
A single wave crest much higher than usual, caused by constructive interference. |
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Wave Height |
Vertical distance between a wave trough and adjacent wave crests. |
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Wave Period |
the time in seconds that it takes for successive wave crests to pass a fixed point. |
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Wavelength |
The horizontal distance between two successive wave crests (or troughs) in a progressive wave. |
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Seiche |
Pendulum-like rocking of water in an enclosed area; a from of standing wave that can be caused by meteorological or seismic forces or may result from normal resonance excited by tides. |
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Tsunami |
Long-wavelength shallow-water wave caused by rapid displacement of surface water. |
