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165 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is salinity associated with?
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Latitude
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major constituents
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6 ions make up more than 99% of the salts dissolved in seawater
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What are the major constituents?
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4 are cations: sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium
2 are anions: chloride and sulfate |
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conservative constituents
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component of seawater that changes bcuz of mixing, diffusion, and advection.
Ex.) Salinity |
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nonconservative constituents
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value changes b/c of biological or chemical processes as well as by mixing, advection and diffusion.
Ex.) nutrients, oxygen in seawater |
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sources of salt
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*crust and interior of earth, molten magma from volcanic processes
*hydrothermal activity found at mid-ocean ridges |
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absorption
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adherence of ions and molecules onto a particle's surface, removes other ions and molecules from seawater.
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formation of new crust at ridge system of deep-ocean floor participates in....
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the input and output of the ions in seawater
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The removal of ions and molecules from sea water through adherence to a clay particle is termed:
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Adsorption
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The principle of constant proportion:
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States that the ratio of major ions does not change with salinity
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The depth that represents equilibrium between oxygen and carbon dioxide production is termed the ________ depth
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Compensation
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principle of constant proportion
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regardless of variations in salinity the ratios btwn the amounts of major ions in open-ocean water are constant
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salinometer
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measures electrical conductivity
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conductivity of water is affected by what?
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salinity and temperature
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saturation concentration
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max amount of any gas that can be held in solution. changes b/c it depends on salinity, temp, and pressure.
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saturation concentration increases and decreases
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if temp or salinity decreases, the SC for gas increases
if pressure decreases, the SC decreases |
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euphotic zone
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depth of water column where there is sufficient sunlight for growth of photosynthetic organisms
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compensation depth
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depth where rate of photosynthesis balances rate of respiration.
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How can oxygen be added to the ocean?
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exchange with atmosphere or as a waste product of photosynthesis.
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Carbon Dioxide Level
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rate at which the oceans absorb CO2 is controlled by water, temp, pH, salinity, chemistry of ions, and biological processes, as well as mixing and circulation patterns.
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pH of seawater
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the higher concentration of CO2 in H20, the lower the pH and more acidic it is.
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The process of reverse osmosis in desalination:
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is replacing older distillation plants in water poor areas.
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Arrange the following constituents in seawater in order from highest to lowest concentration:
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chloride, sodium, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, potassium
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The oceans have a well-mixed surface layer approximately ______ meters thick.
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100
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If you mix two samples of water with different temperatures and salinities but the same density, you will produce a mixture that has:
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A higher density
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The depth of the mixed layer is greatest in the:
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Winter
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Downwelling occurs in areas of:
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Surface convergence
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The Indian Ocean is unique because it:
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Is a Southern Hemisphere Ocean.
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Overturn occurs when the:
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Density at depth is less than the density at the surface.
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Thermohaline sinking of dense water occurs:
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Along downwelling zones.
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Upwelling of deep water:
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Provides nutrient rich water to marine plant life.
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Isotopic tracers in the oceans:
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can provide a measure of the rate of movement of water in the oceans. Make use of radioactive substances produced in atmospheric nuclear test. Provide data for modeling water pathways in the oceans. Are accurately described by each of the above.
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The Lomonosov Ridge divides the _____ Ocean basin.
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Arctic
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The densest water in the oceans is _______ water.
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Antarctic bottom
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The water mass identified by one T-S point rather than a curve, is _____ water.
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Antarctic bottom
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CTD sensors measure which of the following characteristics?
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Conductivity
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An area where temperature rapidly changes with depth is known as the:
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Thermocline
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The densest water body is the oceans is:
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Antarctic bottom water.
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Name the four layers of the atmosphere, from the lowest to the highest.
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troposphere, stratosphere,mesosphere, thermosphere
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The layer of the atmosphere that produces surface winds and weather is the:
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Troposphere
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Air density increases when:
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It cools.
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On a non-rotating Earth model:
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air over the equator warms, rises, and heads polewards. cool, dry air settles at the poles and moves equatorwards. surface winds in the southern hemisphere are south winds.
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The Coriolis effect results from:
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lower rotational velocities at higher latitudes.
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Air moving over the surface of the Earth:
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is deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere.
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Bands of winds blowing toward the equator are called the:
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trade winds.
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The region near the equator of calm or unsteady winds is called the:
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doldrums.
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The satellite-based instrument that detects wind speed and direction from ocean waves is a:
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scatterometer
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The winter monsoon in Asia is characterized by a:
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cool, dry offshore wind.
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Hurricanes in the northern hemisphere:
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need a sea surface temperature of at least 27oC to form.
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The control of precipitation patterns associated with elevation changes is called the _________ effect.
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orographic
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Storm surges:
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may be amplified along shallow shores.
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Which of the following is the correct order of the layers of the atmosphere from highest to lowest?
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troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
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Order the constituents of the atmosphere from highest to lowest concentration.
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nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen
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Which wind system moves from west to east between 30º and 60º north and south latitude?
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westerlies.
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During an El Niño event:
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atmospheric pressure is lower than normal along the west coast of South America.
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Large scale ocean surface currents are...
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are deflected by the same Coriolis effect as the atmosphere.
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How do you describe the patterns of ocean gyres?
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at latitude 10-15 degress are driven westward by the trade winds
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Gyre currents reflect the equilibrium point between gravity and Ekman transport known as __________ flow.
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geostrophic
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In the Pacific Ocean, the currents flowing towards the equator are the:
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California and Peru
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The net flow of surface water from the South to the North Atlantic is balanced by which current?
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North Atlantic Deep Water
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Wind driven open-ocean surface currents....
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speed up when moving through narrow gaps.
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Which of the following is a western boundary current?
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A)Norwegian
B)Canary C)California D)Gulf Stream * |
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Eddies are packets of water that:
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may maintain their physical and chemical identity for weeks.
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Ekman transport:
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-describes net flow of water set in motion by the wind.
-moves 90 degress to the direction of the wind. -moves right of wind direction in NH |
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Eddies generated by horizontal flows:
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may be embedded in waters at any depth.
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What accurately describes convergence and divergence?
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Surface convergence occurs when wind driven water collides with a continent.
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Along the west coast of North America:
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-upwelling and downwelling both occur seasonally.
-north winds lead to summer upwelling. -south winds lead to winter downwelling. |
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Global ocean circulation is described by....
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-NADW mixes with and is cooled by Antarctic Bottom Water.
-Deep water from the Atlantic supplies upwellings in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. -Surface flow from the Pacific and Indian oceans replaces deep water formed in the North Atlantic. |
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Pacific Decadal Oscillations have been tied to which of the following climate patterns?
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prolonged warm, dry conditions in the Pacific Northwest
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Which of the following currents is affected by western intensification?
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Kurishio Current
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As a result of Ekman transport, upwelling occurs when:
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wind blows from the north along the west coast of a continent in the northern hemisphere.
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Current meter
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instrument for measuring the speed and direction of a current
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coriolis effect
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force acting on a body in motion, due to rotation of earth.causes deflection
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convergence
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water converges and produces sinking or downwelling of surface water
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caballing
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mixing of 2 water types w/ identical densities but diff. temps and salinities; results in denser mix.
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Coriolis deflection in NH
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to the right
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Coriolis deflection in SH
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to the left
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doldrums
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variable winds near the equator
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divergence
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horizontal flow of water away from a common center.
leads to upwelling in water |
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downwelling zones
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sinking of water.
result of water convergence or an increase in density of water at sea surface |
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El Nino
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wind-driven reversal of Pacific equatorial currents, resulting in movmnt of warm water toward the coasts of Americas.
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Eddy
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circular movement of water. (Cold or warm body of water)
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Ekman Spiral
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surface water moves 45 degress to right of wind in NH. at greater depths, the water moves farther to right with decreased speed until at around 100m, the water moves opposite to wind direction.
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greenhouse effect
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gradual increase in average global temp caused by absorption of infared radiation from earth's surface by "gases" in the atmosphere.
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geostophic flow
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horizontal flow of water occurring when there is a balance between gravitational forces and the Coriolis effect
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heat budget
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accounting for total amt of sun's heat received on earth during 1 yr as being exactly equal to total amt lost b/c of radiation and reflection
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isobar
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line of constant pressure
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hurricane
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severe, cyclonic, tropical storm at sea with winds of 120 km/h or more. mostly applied to Atlantic Ocean storms
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gyre
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circular movement of water; large than an eddy
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halocline
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abrupt change in salinity with depth
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isopycnal
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having a uniform density
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isothermal
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having a uniform temperature
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isohaline
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having a uniform salt content
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jet stream
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stream of air, btwn 30 and 50 degress N and S and abt 12 km above earth. moving from west to east at an average speed of 100 km/h
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La Nina
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condition of colder than normal surface water in the eastern tropical pacific
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Langmuir Cell
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shallow wind-driven circulation; paired helixes of moving water form windrows of debris along convergence lines
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mesosphere
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layer of atmosphere above stratosphere extending from about 50-90 km
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ozone
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form of oxygen that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun; 03
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orographic effect
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precipitation patterns caused by flow of air over mtns.
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overturn
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sinking of denser water and its replacement by less-dense water from below
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polar easterlies
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winds blowing from the poles twrds approx. 60 N and 60 S; winds are NE in NH and SE in SH
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pynocline
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abrupt chance in density with depth
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stratosphere
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layer of atmosphere above troposphere where temp is constant or increases with altitude
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southern Oscillation
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periodic reversal of low and high-pressure areas the typically dominate the eastern and western equatorial pacific.
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storm surge (storm tide)
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high water rise after a storm, owing to high winds and low pressure. Made even worse when it is high tide and shallow depths.
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troposphere
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lowest layer of atmosphere, where temp decreases with altitude
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thermosphere
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layer of atmosphere above mesosphere; extends from 90 km to outer space
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trade winds
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wind system that occupy most of the tropics and blow from abt 30 N to 30 S twrd equator, winds are NE in NH and SE and SH
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thermohaline circulation
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vertical circulation caused by changes in density; driven by changes in temp and salinity.
important cuz it brings down oxygen |
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thermocline
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abrupt change in temperature with depth
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upwelling zones
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rising of water rich in nutrients twrd the surface, usually result of diverging surface currents
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westerlies
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wind systems blowing from west btwn latitudes 30 N and 60 N and 30 S and 60 S. SW in NH and NW in SH
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typhoon
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severe, cyclonic tropical storm originating in western pacific ocean
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How does earth keep its constant temperature?
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Winds and ocean currents remove excess heat accumalted in the tropics and release it at high latitudes to maintain constant temperature.
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What controls the annual temperature range in southern middle latitude?
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The lack of land in the southern hemisphere and the high heat capacity of the oceans.
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The absorption, reflection, and transmission of solar energy in the atmosphere depend on the....
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gaseous composition of the atmosphere, suspended particles, and the abundance and types of clouds
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How is the troposphere heated?
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from below by heat energy reradiated and conducted from Earth's surface and by condensation of water vapor in the upper troposphere.
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What is found in the troposphere?
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Precipitation, evaporation, convective circulation, wind systems, and clouds
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Since ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, what happens to the stratosphere?
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The temperature raises in the stratosphere.
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Density is controlled by 3 different variables, which are....
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Temperature
Amount of Water Vapor in the Air Altitude |
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The density of air decreases and increases when temperature...
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Increases and density increases with decreasing temperature
warm air is lighter than cold air |
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Air density decreases if humidity...
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increases or the concentration of water vapor increases, and density increases if humidity decreases.
moist air is lighter than dry air |
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Cold, dry air is....
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more dense than warm, moist air
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the density of air decreases with what kind of altitude?
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increasing altitude.
The greater the compression the greater the density |
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high-pressure zones
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regions of air with a density greater than normal
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low-pressure zones
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density of air is less than average
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what are the 3 reservoirs of Carbon dioxide?
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atmosphere
the oceans terrestrial system (also can be the geologic reservoir of earth's crust) |
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What stores the largest and smallest amount of CO2?
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The oceans store the largest
the atmosphere stores the least |
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What links all CO2 reservoirs?
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The atmosphere?
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Less-dense warmer air _______?
Cooler-denser air______? |
Rises
Sinks |
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Intertropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ) |
zone of low pressure and rising air near the equator. where wind systems of NH and SH converge to make rising air, low pressure, and high precipitation
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How does wind circulation move about in a high pressure cell in the NH?
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Clockwise
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How does wind circulation move in low-pressure cells in the NH?
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Counter-Clockwise
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How does wind circulation move in the SH? And why?
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High-Pressure: counter-clockwise
Low-Pressure: Clockwise Because of the Coriolis effect |
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What controls the density of ocean surface water?
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Changes in temperature and salinity and pressure
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When Salinity increases, density ___?
When temp. increases, density ____? When pressure increases, density__? |
increases
decreases increases |
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The ocean is sorted by what?
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Density levels
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What kind of current can affect density?
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wind-driven surface currents
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The surface zone
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extends about 200 m
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intermediate zone
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300 and 2000 m
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Deep water zone
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2000-4000 m
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Bottom water
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below 4000 m
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North Atlantic Deep Water
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has a salinity of about 34.9 ppt and temp. of 2-4 C.
*it sinks and moves southward |
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Antarctic Intermediate Water
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*near equator
*the upper boundary of North Atlantic deep water is formed by water produced at the convergence centered about 40 S. *about 5 C and 34.4 ppt |
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Antarctic Bottom Water
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*temp -.5 C and 34.8 ppt
cold and dense water is produced at surface by sea ice formation during SH winter. *densest water in the oceans |
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What controls the density of the Arctic Ocean?
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Salinity
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Mediterranean Intermediate Waters
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since in the North Atlantic to about 1000 m
temp of abt 13 C and abt 37.3 ppt |
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when talking about the Ekman transport and spiral system, which way does water move in the Southern Hemisphere?
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On the eastern side in the SH it moves North
On western side ocean moves south |
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Ekman transport causes water circulation to move how in the NH and SH?
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clockwise in NH and counter-clockwise in SH
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North Equatorial Current
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when the northeast trade winds push the water toward the west and northwest on the North Pacific ocean.
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North Pacific Current
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Created by the westerlies. Moves from west to east.
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California Current
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moves from north to south along the western coast of North America
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Kuroshio Current
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moves south to north along the east coast of Japan.
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The cali current and kuroshio current provide...
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continuity of flow and complete a circular motion centered around 30 N latitude.
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what currents make up the North Pacific Gyre?
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Cali Current
Kuroshio Current North Equatorial Current North Pacific Current flows clockwise |
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Oyashio Current and Alaska Current are....
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wind driven currents
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South Equatorial Current
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the southeast trade winds move water to left of wind and westward in the South Pacific Ocean
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West Wind Drift
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westerly winds push water to east and can almost move continuously around earth
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What makes up the South Pacific Gyre?
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West Wind Drift
Peru Current South Equatorial Current East Australian Current moves counterclockwise |
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Equatorial Countercurrent
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continuity current
helps to return accumulated surface water eastward across the pacific |
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Canary Current and the Gulf stream are...
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the north-south continuity currents
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What makes up the North Atlantic Gyre
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rotates clockwise
Gulf Stream Canary Current North Atlantic Current North Equatorial Current |
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What makes up the South Atlantic Gyre?
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South Equatorial Current
Brazil Current West wind Drift Benguela Current rotates counterclockwise |
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Five major zones of convergence
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Tropical convergence at equator
2 subtropical convergences at abt 30-40 N and S Arctic and Antarctic Convergences |
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three major divergence zones
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2 tropical divergences
antarctic divergence |