Vocab Quiz 2

Question 1

Boundary layer

Answer 1

A layer of fluid near a surface, where flow is affected by viscous properties of the fluid. At the surface, fluid velocity must be zero, and the boundary layer is a thin film that depends on surface texture, fluid velocity in the “mainstream of flow,” and fluid mass properties such as salinity.

Question 2

Conductivity

Answer 2

The measure of salinity of ocean water

Question 3

Coriolis effect

Answer 3

The deflection of air or water bodies, relative to the solid earth beneath, as a result of the earth’s eastward rotation.

Question 4

Density

Answer 4

Grams of seawater in 1 cubic cm of fluid.

Question 5

Dynamic viscosity

Answer 5

A measure of molecular stickiness of a fluid, or a measure of resistance of a fluid to deform when force is applied.

Question 6

Ekman transport

Answer 6

Movement of surface water at an angle from the wind, as a result of the Coriolis effect

Question 7

El Niño-Southern Oscillatio (enso)

Answer 7

Condition in which warm surface water moves into the eastern Pacific, collapsing upwelling and increasing surface-water temperatures and precipitation along the west coasts of North and South America.

Question 8

Gyres

Answer 8

Major cyclonic surface current systems in the oceans.

Question 9

Heat of vaporization

Answer 9

The amount of heat required to convert a unit mass of water at its boiling point into vapor without any increase in temperature.

Question 10

Hydrogen bonds

Answer 10

A chemical bond with a hydrogen atom between two negatively charged atoms (e.g., oxygen).

Question 11

Kinematic viscosity

Answer 11

The dynamic viscosity divided by water density.

Question 12

Laminar flow

Answer 12

The movement of a fluid where movement of the entire fluid is regular and with parallel streamlines.

Question 13

Major elements

Answer 13

Those present in seawater in concentrations greater than 100 parts per million (ppm). Chlorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and potassium

Question 14

Minor elements

Answer 14

Are present at concentrations between 1 and 100 ppm. Bromine, carbon, strontium, boron, silicon, and fluorine

Question 15

Oxygen minimum layers

Answer 15

A depth zone, usually below the thermocline, in which dissolved oxygen is minimal.

Question 16

Pressure drag

Answer 16

A difference in pressure upstream and downstream of an object in a flow.

Question 17

Pycnoclines

Answer 17

Depth zone within which seawater density changes.

Question 18

Residence time

Answer 18

the time a unit of a substance spends in a specified location in the environment (eg., the residence time of sodium in the Antarctic bottom water).

Question 19

Seafloor spreading

Answer 19

The horizontal movement of oceanic crust.

Question 20

Reynolds number (re)

Answer 20

A number that represents the relative importance of viscous forces and inertial forces in a fluid. As Re increases, inertial forces become more important. In seawater, Re increases with increasing water velocity and with the size of the object in the water.

Question 21

Specific gravity

Answer 21

The ratio of density of one substance of fluid to the density of a standard fluid, in this case, water is the standard for liquids and solids

Question 22

Specific heat

Answer 22

It takes 1 calorie to raise temperature of a gram of pure water by 1 degree Celsius

Question 23

Thermocline

Answer 23

Depth zone within which temperature changes maximally.

Question 24

Upwelling

Answer 24

The movement of nutrient-rich water from a specified depth to the surface, usually driven by surface winds.

Question 25

Westerlies

Answer 25

Persistent eastward-equatorward winds in midlatitudes in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.