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Azuka Marine (Mr McGill) > Ocean Floor > Flashcards

Ocean Floor Flashcards

1
Q

Pangea

A

the theory that there was just one land mass

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2
Q

Theory of Plate tectonics

A

theory that suggests that the outer crust of the Earth, known as the lithosphere, consists of a number of separate plates which ‘float’ on the underlying layer (the mantle)

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3
Q

Convergent boundaries

A

where two plates are moving toward each other

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4
Q

Divergent boundaries

A

where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth’s surface between the two plates

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5
Q

Transform boundaries

A

where plates slide sideways past each other

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6
Q

Evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics includes:

A
  • fits between continents (for example the east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa);
  • paleontology showing the distribution of fossil species;

-magnetic stripes in the ocean floor.
The pattern of magnetic stripes provides clear evidence of ocean floor spreading

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7
Q

Lithosphere

A

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

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8
Q

Subduction

A

(where one plate is forced under another)

the sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate of the earth’s crust into the mantle beneath another plate

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9
Q

Ocean trenches are…

A

long and narrow and are the deepest part of the ocean floor

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10
Q

Mid-ocean ridges are…

A

underwater mountain ranges, formed by upward movement and cooling of the underlying magma, which cools and solidifies as it emerges

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11
Q

Mountain range formation occurs at…

A

divergent tectonic plate boundary and is responsible for seafloor spreading

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12
Q

Abyssal plains

A

relatively flat areas of the ocean floor, situated between ocean ridges and continental rises

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13
Q

Mantle convection (process of abyssal plain being formed)

A

the upwards movement of molten material from the oceanic crust, which solidifies and forms new ocean crust.

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14
Q

How is a volcano formed

A

where there is an opening in the Earth’s crust, allowing hot gases and molten rock to escape from below the surface

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15
Q

Volcanoes can be formed…

A

where tectonic plates are moving towards each other (convergent)

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16
Q

Earthquakes occur when…

A

there is a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust, creating shock waves

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17
Q

What happens when two plates slip past eachother?

A

they may lock. Continued plate movement results in strain building up until the plates suddenly move again, release stored energy and creating an earthquake

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18
Q

Tsunami

A

a very large wave produced by the sudden movement of a very large volume of water

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19
Q

Process of tsunami development

A

In deep, oceanic water, a tsunami wave travels quickly. As the wave approaches shallow, coastal water, it slows down but forms large, waves

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20
Q

Hydrothermal vents occur…

A

in the deep ocean, typically along mid-ocean ridges where two tectonic plates are diverging

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21
Q

How are hydrothermal vents formed?

A
  • Sea water which seeps into cracks in the ocean floor and water from the upwelling magma, is released from the hot magma
  • A hydrothermal vent forms where the hot water passes up through the ocean floor and, as it cools, the dissolved minerals start to precipitate out.
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22
Q

Minerals in a hydrothermal vent include…

A

the sulphide of iron, copper and zinc.

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23
Q

Hrydrothermal vents can be super heated when…

A

There is high pressure

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24
Q

Isostasy

A

the buoyant properties of layers of rocks which floats on other layers, according to their density and thickness

25
Q

Continental shelf

A

a gently sloping region surrounding the continents, over which the sea is relatively shallow covered with sediment, derived from erosion of the continents

26
Q

The depth of water over the continental shelf depends upon two main factors:

A
  • isostatic changes in land height

- changes in sea level

27
Q

The principle of isostasy shows that…

A

the Earth’s crust is generally higher where it is thicker and less dense; lower where it is thinner and more dense

28
Q

Littoral zone can also be called…

A

the intertidal zone

29
Q

Littoral zone

A

the area of a coast between the high water mark and the lowest part of the shore which is permanently submerged

30
Q

Littoral zone is the part of the sea shore that…

A

the land meets the sea

31
Q

The nature of the shore depends on two main factors:

A
  • The geology of the adjacent land (shape of the shore and substrate that makes the shore)
  • The exposure to erosion by the sea (wave action and erosion and organisms that live there)
32
Q

Some types of rock, such as granite, are…

A

resistant to weathering and break down less easily than softer rocks, such as sandstone

33
Q

What does repeated pounding effect of the sea do to the rocky shores?

A

grades the rocks according to size with the largest boulders being left at the top of the shore

34
Q

Rocky shores often show…

A

clear zonation of different species, which many appear in distinct bands along the shore

35
Q

Resistance to desiccation

A

time spent out of water and in changing temperature before death

36
Q

Environmental factors that influence communities on a rocky shore

A
  • desiccation
  • temperature
  • wave action
  • light intensity
  • aspect
  • slope
  • the nature of the substrate
37
Q

Zonation

A

a separation of organisms in a habitat into definite zones or bands according to biological and physical factors, common in rocky shore habitats

38
Q

High-tide zone

A
  • Area that only has water during high tides
  • Organisms must survive long periods of time with no water and fluctuating temperatures.
  • Organisms have strategies to avoid predators.
  • Organisms include: chitons, crabs, isopods and barnacles
39
Q

Middle-tide zone

A
  • Area exposed to air once or twice a day during low tide.
  • Organisms need strategies to cope with desiccation.
  • Organisms include: limpets, periwinkles and mussels
40
Q

Low-tide zone

A
  • Usually covered with water except during the lowest tides
  • Organisms have few strategies for avoiding desiccation
  • Organisms include: seaweed algae, sea stars, sea urchins, sea anemones and oysters
41
Q

Mangroves form..

A

woodland or a shrubland habitat, in coastal or estuarine conditions where sedimentation of silts occurs

42
Q

The extensive root system…

A

help to trap particles suspended in the water and reduce water flow - which increases the deposition of sediments

43
Q

The root systems and accumulated sediments..

A

provide habitats for a wide variety of other organisms, including algae, oysters, crabs, barnacles and other crustaceans, sponges and fish

44
Q

The root system of mangroves also…

A

dissipates wave energy and thus helps to protect coastal areas from erosion

45
Q

Primary physical factors that mangroves have to contend with for survival:

A
  • High salt content in water (salinity)

- Low oxygen content in the substrate (anoxic soil)

46
Q

Red mangrove roots are nearly…

A

impermeable to salt because of a very efficient filtration method

47
Q

Black mangroves expel…

A

salt through pores on the underside of their leaves

48
Q

Perches the mangrove above the high tide

A

Prop roots

49
Q

Prop roots can absorb…

A

oxygen through their bark

50
Q

Pneumatophores

A

Specially adapted root structures which obtain oxygen directly from the air (Black mangroves)

51
Q

Sandy shores are formed by

A

erosion of sandstone and deposition of sediments by waves

52
Q

Sandy shores are unstable because

A

the fine mineral particles are easily moved by winds and tides

53
Q

Infauna

A

animals living within the sediment of the ocean floor, river or lake beds

54
Q

Types of infaunas

A

ghost crabs

bivalve molluscs annelid worms (such as ragworms and lugworms)

55
Q

Where is least exposed to erosion?

A

Muddy shores as the silt particles include very fine mineral sediments and organic remains

56
Q

Estuaries

A

a semi-enclosed coastal body of water, which has a connection with the sea and within which sea water is diluted with fresh water derived from land drainage

57
Q

Many estuaries have a…

A

muddy substrate as the relatively slow flow of water allows fine suspended particles to settle

58
Q

Deltas are formed when…

A

a river carrying suspended sediments reaches a large body of water, such as a lake or an ocean

59
Q

As the river increases in width…

A

the flow rate of water decrease (slows down) and, as a result, the suspended sediments settle

Azuka Marine (Mr McGill) (2 decks)

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