What is the name of the sharp decrease in temperature which is found between 2000 and 4000 feet? thermocline
How did the “trade winds” get their name? they correspond with trade routes used by sailing vessels to aid with commerce and the flow of resources
What are the four currents in the North Atlantic Gyre? (Be able to sketch and label!) Gulf Stream, N. Atlantic, Canary, N. Equitorial
What factor drives deep ocean circulation? density
What are the two major elements found in saltwater? sodium & chlorine
About what percentage of each of the above elements are typically found? ~30% and ~50%
What two factors allow us to find the density of seawater? (Think of the lab we did) temperature and salinity
What are the curving lines of equaldensity called on a Temperature-Salinity graph? isopycnals
What does the abbreviation NADW stand for? North Atlantic Deep Water
How does the “ocean conveyer” system work? (Think about what drives surface and deep ocean currents and how they interact) The wind blows, creating surface currents, water moves and then cools/sinks near the poles, the water warms and spreads along the ocean bottom, warms, and rises. (And repeats)
What can be found in the North Pacific Ocean due to the currents/gyre in this region? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Hurricanes
What is the minimum wind speed for a storm to be considered a hurricane? 74 mph
Where do tropical storms/hurricanes tend to form? Warm water
Provide two additional names for a hurricane: cyclone and typhoon
What is normally found in the center of stronger and well defined hurricanes? a circular “eye”
What is the name of the hurricane power scale? Saffir-Simpson
What is the range for the above scale (and which is the least severe)? 1 – 5 (1 is minimal)
If a hurricane had a wind speed of 160 mph, what Category hurricane would it be? Cat. 5
What is the number one cause of death IN THE US from hurricanes? Freshwater flooding
What is the number one cause of death around the world from hurricanes? storm surge
When is the Atlantic Hurricane Season? June 1st – November 30th
What Category 5 hurricane hit the U.S. in 1969, causing extreme flooding and destruction throughout Virginia? Hurricane Camille
What two things can kill or weaken a hurricane? Cold Water & Land
Ocean Life
What percentage of seawater is dissolved minerals (by weight)? 3.5%
What are some ways salinity can increase in an area? Decrease? Decrease salinity – Any process that ADDS water (precipitation, etc). Increase salinity– Any process that TAKES water OUT (evaporation, etc.)
What are the 3 majorlayers of the ocean? Surface (Mixed), Transition, Deep
About what percentage of life on earth can be found in the ocean? ~50%
What tiny marine organism makes up a majority of Earth’s biomass? (Hint: there are two types, zoo- and phyto-) Plankton
(True or False) Plankton can move independently of the ocean currents and can go wherever they want. False
If an organism can move around independently of the ocean currents, what type of classification would this organism receive? Nekton
What are some examples of Benthos organisms? Octopi, Crustacean, some fish, etc.
Which factor is used most often to divide the ocean into distinct marine life zones? availability of light
What are the two classifications for the distinct marine life zones? photic and aphotic
Which organism is found in all of the ocean layers and can be either boney or cartilaginous? fish
What painful characteristic makes Cnidarians unique? stinging cells
What organism (which is normally colonial) is responsible for building up reef’s around the world? coral
What are the three types of reef? (Be able to label them/recognize them by the pictures!) fringing, barrier, and atoll