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8th grade - chapter 16:1-16:2
The Dynamic Ocean
15
Other
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07/28/2005

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Term
gyres
Definition
large whirls of water within an ocean basin
Term
ocean currents
Definition
s large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans

caused mostly by global winds and rotation of the earth
Term
surface currents
Definition
movement of water horizontally in the upper part of the ocean's surface- parallel to Earth's surface
Term
upwelling
Definition
a cirulation in the ocean that brings deep,cold water to the ocean surface to replace warmer surface water
Term
density currents
Definition
vertical currents of ocean water that results from density differences in water masses ;
caused by changes in temperature, salinity and pressure - caused when cold water (more dense) sinks under less dense warm seawater
Term
wave height
Definition
vertical distance (up and down) between crest and trough
Term
wave length
Definition
horizontal distance (left to right) between crests or between troughs of 2 successive waves
Term
wave period
Definition
the time it takes for one full wave (one wave length) t pass a certain spot
Term
fetch
Definition
is the distance that the wind has traveled across open water
Term
tide
Definition
the daily change in the level of the earth's oceans - caused mainly by the pull of the moon's gravity
Term
tidal range
Definition
the difference between level of ocean at high tide and low tide
Term
Spring Tide
Definition
the moon, Earth and sun line up together twice a month and their forces combine - occur during new moon and full moon phases
Term
Neap Tide
Definition
gravitational pull of the moon works against the gravitational pull of the sun; resisting each other - occurs during the moon's first and last quarter phases
Term
Coriolis Effect
Definition
the effect of Earth's rotatin on the dirction of winds and currents
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