Ocean Flashcards
(25 cards)
Pacific ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth’s oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean
Atlantic ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world’s oceanic divisions, following the Pacific Ocean
Indian ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world’s oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth’s surface.
Arctic ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region
Southern ocean
The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean or the Austral Ocean
salinity
Salinity is the measure of all the salts dissolved in water.
surface zone
Geography. any of five great divisions of the earth’s surface, bounded by lines parallel to the equator and named according to the prevailing temperature. Compare North Frigid Zone, North Temperate Zone, South Frigid Zone, South Temperate Zone, Torrid Zone
hermocline
is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid
deep zone
intermediate position between the abyssalpolegic region and the sea bed.
water cycle
the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.
evaporation
Evaporation is the process of a substance in a liquid state changing to a gaseous state due to an increase in temperature and/or pressure.
condensation
Condensation is the change of water from its gaseous form
precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground.
continental shelf
The continental shelf is an underwater landmass which extends from a continent, resulting in an area of relatively shallow water
continental slope
consists of muds and silts, and is often crosscut by submarine canyons.
continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide
abyssal plain
An abyssal plain is an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor
mid-ocean ridge
A mid-ocean ridge or mid-oceanic ridge is an underwater mountain range, formed by plate tectonics
rift valley
A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or faul
seamount
A seamount is a mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach to the water’s surface
ocean trench
long, narrow, deep depression in the ocean floor, typically one running parallel to a plate boundary and marking a subduction zone.
plankton
are a diverse group of organisms that live in the water column of large bodies of water and that cannot swim against a current
nekton
aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents.
benthos
he flora and fauna found on the bottom, or in the bottom sediments, of a sea, lake, or other body of water.
